6 Important Things Every Car Owner Should Know

If you’ve just gotten yourself a car, congratulations! It takes a lot of saving and organizing to make such a big purchase. A car can be a wonderful source of freedom and self-sufficiency. It can also be the cause of some major headaches if you’re not careful. The following will explore a handful of important things you might want to keep in mind now that you have a vehicle of your own.

Of course, every vehicle and climate is different, and this means that there might be additional things to consider beyond what’s on this list. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions and a local mechanic’s opinion in addition to reading this list.

Standard Indicators Of An Issue

There are a few tell-tale signs that your vehicle is having a problem. Unusual noise or handling, discolored smoke coming from the gasket, and other indicators of engine trouble should all be read about. You want to be able to act on vehicle problems quickly as often. This can save you a ton of money since you treat the issue before it becomes worse. Beyond this, not dealing with these indicators can put your health and safety at risk.

How To Refill Gas

The first time you visit the pump, it can be a little nerve-wracking. You don’t want to mess up and slow down the line behind you, nor do you want to make a mistake with a flammable, toxic substance like gasoline. If you’re unsure, visit the pump with a friend or family member who has experience for your first time. Once you see how simple the process is (they’ve streamlined it to help encourage speedier pump usage), you’ll quickly grow more confident.

Be sure to take a note from which side your vehicle fills so that you can park appropriately. You also want to avoid using anything with a spark or flame near a gas station; this means if you’re a smoker, you should never smoke on gas station property but wait until you have left the entire premises before sparking a lighter.

Gasoline Expires

Taking the extra precaution of having a canister of gas in the back of your car or garage can be wise, but there are a few things you should know about this before you do it. Firstly, gasoline expires. This means you can’t keep it indefinitely. It’s also worth noting that gas needs to be stored in a properly sealed canister and kept away from anything with a flame or spark.

How To Clean Your Interior

Vehicles can quickly get messy if they’re not tended to. Because your car serves as your transition between so many locations, it quickly gets filled with items from home, work, school, hobbies, and errands. Learning how to properly clean the interior of your car can help you have more pleasant driving experiences. Cars also hold scents differently than other things, and this means that freshening up on a regular basis is important.

Be wary of using fragranced products to do this if you regularly drive someone who gets car sick around; fragrance causes inflammation in the body, and this often adds severely to the discomfort of someone who gets motion sick in cars. (It’s also terrible for your health, too.) Try to find fragrance-free cleaning products (or use vinegar) and watch out for tricky labels like scent-free. Often this means an extra scent was added to cover up the odor of the product.

Signs Of Danger On The Road

There are several elements of the driving experience that are more dangerous than others. If you’re aware of the moments that are more likely to produce an accident or harm, you can make better driving choices. Some intersections are more dangerous than others; some weather is not okay to drive in. In addition to standard driving data, it’s important to understand when you’re not in a state to drive. If you’ve just had an extreme or emotional experience like losing a job, breaking up with someone, and hearing the news of a death or terrifying world event, you might not be in the right headspace to drive safely.

Parking By-Laws Near Your Work And Home

Every town has its quirks, and for many places, parking is one of them. Be sure to figure out what the parking by-laws are near your home and workplace as well as anywhere else you frequent. Some places only allow parking on one side of the road for the first half of the day and the other side for the second half, meaning you’re going to have to move your car midday. Other places have weird exception hours to the standard rules. It’s easy to get a ticket if you don’t research this.

The above things are all important to know if you’ve got a vehicle. It’s also critical that you figure out what the weather-specific requirements are for safety in your area. This might include antifreeze in your windshield wiper fluid or winter tires.

Featured Photo by Darwin Vegher on Unsplash