If there is one thing that your car needs regularly, it’s maintenance. Luckily, even if you are not overly familiar with how to maintain a car, you can usually get help through DC Toyota maintenance. If you are new to owning a car or you have never sat down to take the time to understand what kind of maintenance your car needs, it might be time to break out the owner’s manual and make a list. At the very least, here are 6 things that you really should get in the habit of checking regularly to keep your car running well.

Oil

Oil level is very important in running your car. If you happen to let the oil run dry, it can cause all sorts of damage to your vehicle. Dirty oil can help spread filth throughout parts of your car and keep it running as efficiently as it could. Too much oil can also cause your car to act a little funny. You should know where your oil is located and where the dipstick is. You should wipe the dipstick clean, insert it into the engine, and pull it out carefully. If the oily part of the stick is between the two indicator lines, you are okay. Take note of the color of the oil, too. If it seems exceptionally dark or dirty, you might take it in for an oil change.

Tires

Tires are very important for your car. Your tires should have good tread on them and be wearing evenly. One way to make sure that they wear evenly is to have them rotated on a regular basis, such as whenever you get your oil changed. You should also make sure the tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can check this yourself using a tire pressure gauge. Properly inflated tires that are rotated regularly should help you get the best gas mileage out of your car.

Fluids

Fluids should be looked at regularly on your car, including wiper fluid, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. If you don’t know how to do this, then taking your car in to a Washington Toyota maintenance technician may be wise. Low fluid levels could hamper the handling of your car, so have the fluids checked regularly.

Brakes

Brakes are very important for your safety, so you should have them inspected whenever you take your car in. It’s only a matter of time before your brake pads will need to be replaced, so if you notice your brakes acting funny or making weird noises, you should probably have them looked at. A little inspection will go a long way to keeping you and others safe.

Battery

Your battery is another item on your car that will likely need to be change...