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9 common car maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them

9 common car maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them

A car is a significant investment, so it is important to ensure it functions properly for a long time. Timely repairs, servicing, and maintenance are a few ways to keep your car in good condition. However, car owners often miss out on certain aspects of maintenance, which can lead to repair jobs that can burn a hole in the wallet. To help avoid such scenarios, here are some common car maintenance mistakes to avoid.

Trying to service your car without any expertise
Car owners may be easily tempted to do maintenance work on their automobiles to save a few bucks. You may think the problem is relatively small, and you only need to look at a few videos online, get the tools, and solve the problem yourself. However, if you don’t have the required experience or expertise in car maintenance, it will result in problems in the long run. You will have to pay more than you wanted to save to reverse all the damage. Therefore, it is always best to check with a professional having the necessary equipment, tools, and expertise to service and repair your car correctly.

Postponing the car wash
Reasons ranging from sudden emergency appointments and personal commitments to errands often push back on the routine car wash you had planned. While it is okay to miss out on the car wash a couple of times, skipping it for weeks or months is one of the most common car maintenance mistakes that can be easily avoided. It is because weather elements, pollution, mud, and chemicals will damage the exterior of your car. It may also lead to premature rusting of the car paint. So regular visits to the car wash that also cleans the undercarriage will go a long way in protecting your car.

Forgetting to clean your car’s interior
Most people assume that car maintenance only involves taking care of the exterior and mechanical components of the car. However, just like the exterior, the automobile’s interior must be kept clean. Dust, grit, moisture, and crumbs can cause damage to the floorboards and the seats. So make sure to vacuum the inside of your car regularly. Remove any stains immediately after finding them. Use a mild disinfectant and soft cloth to wipe off the dirt, dust, and grime from the doors, seats, dashboard, and console. If you use mats or covers on your floorboards, dust them off or wash them regularly to prevent damage.

Ignoring the check engine light for months
The check engine light is there for a purpose; to let you know there is some problem with your car’s engine. However, most people ignore the light when the car operates normally. So they end up ignoring it until the day the car breaks down, making them pay more out of their pocket. It is a prevalent car maintenance mistake that most automobile owners make. To avoid complications, always get your car checked the moment the check engine light turns on.

Continuing to drive the car even when the engine is overheated
The engine of your car will get very hot while it is running. All cars have a cooling system to prevent the engine from overheating. But the system can fail for various reasons such as regular wear and tear, damage, etc. When this happens, the engine will become overheated. In such cases, it is advised to stop the car immediately and call a towing service.

Not checking the pressure of the tires
Many times the tires of a car look properly inflated from the outside, even when they are low on air. It is why many automobile owners often make the mistake of not regularly checking tire pressure. The slightly low air pressure may not cause the tires to blow out. But this can lead to the very poor fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Moreover, there is always the running risk of the air pressure suddenly dropping drastically, for instance, when the tires hit a pothole or a ditch. To avoid this, ensure you check your vehicle’s tire pressure regularly.

Not changing the oil
For most cars, an oil change must be done every 7,000 miles. It means you do not have to spend time and money on frequent oil changes; however, this easily becomes an excuse for avoiding changing the engine oil or postponing it for a long time. It will cause damage to the engine as well as the performance of the car. In the worse case, you may even have to rebuild or replace your engine, which will be very costly. So do not wait too long to get the oil changed as soon as you hit the 7,000 miles mark.

Forgetting to change the windshield wipers
Windshield wipers start to deteriorate with time. Regular wear and tear will render them ineffective, causing them to shake and chatter whenever you use them. As a result, they will leave streak marks over your windshield. So when there is snow, rain, sleet, and other precipitation, the damaged wipers will be of no help. Therefore, car owners must avoid this mistake and change the wipers as soon as they show signs of any damage.

Using a home glass cleaner to clean the rear windshield
A home glass cleaner will contain ammonia as one of the primary cleaning chemicals. The ammonia will cause the heating elements on your windshield to break down. These heating elements are the thin red lines (which are wires) that are designed to heat your rear windshield and help with defrosting. Ammonia in the home glass cleaner will damage these lines and the windshield. Therefore, always use window cleaners made specifically for automotive glass to avoid this issue.

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Have you ever woken up feeling tired and lethargic despite sleeping for seven to eight hours at night? It could be due to poor sleep quality. Disturbed sleep influences the rest of your day: how you think, your performance at work, and other tasks. The causes of poor sleep are many, including a faulty mattress, distractions in your room, or a heavy dinner. Avoiding the following mistakes before bed can help you sleep better: Staring at a screen Using gadgets close to bedtime is probably the most common mistake in the digital age. The blue light emitted from screens affects the production of a specific hormone responsible for inducing sleep and regulating the circadian rhythm. Apart from the blue light emission, the television or mobile phone sound can be a distraction that keeps you awake. High noise levels create lots of mental stimulation and disturbance, preventing the brain from shutting down. Hence, it is advisable to avoid using phones, televisions, and laptops for at least an hour before bed. Exercising Exercise is among the best solutions for good health, but you must do it at the right time. Physical activity late in the evening or at night hampers sleep patterns by increasing stress and raising body temperature.
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Food gets broken down into glucose by the body to release energy for its functioning. Most meal plans combine fats, proteins, sugars, and other essential carbohydrates vital for healthy growth and organ function. However, people with diabetes should be careful about seemingly healthy foods as it can trigger a spike in their blood glucose levels. Here are different foods that are bad for diabetes and should not be eaten regularly: Various foods that are bad for diabetes patients Fruit juices and other drinks Sugar consumption via beverages can spike insulin levels drastically. Did you know that lots of seemingly healthy store-bought fruit smoothies, sports drinks, bottled juices, and sodas can spike blood sugar levels too? Also, natural fruit juices are not necessarily a healthy option as they are high in fructose. Aside from this, cola, iced tea, lemonade, and other flavored beverages are excessively high in carbs, sugar, and fructose. Their regular consumption can trigger insulin resistance, forcing healthy cells to reject insulin and extract glucose for energy. Another crucial thing to remember is to avoid any type of spirit if you have diabetes. These contain empty calories and can worsen the condition significantly. Cereals, yogurt, and dried fruits Daily breakfast cereals are fortified with essential vitamins and nutrients that make up for a wholesome meal.
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Strengthening the lungs can help one avoid respiratory issues and diseases. Even when diagnosed with a lung-related illness, making significant changes to the lifestyle and food regimen can help people manage the symptoms and restore lung function. However, it is equally important to avoid the food items that damage these organs and cause issues like inflammation, sneezing, and wheezing. Here are a few foods to avoid to improve lung health: Salty food Foods with excessive salt should be avoided as their long-term consumption can have severe consequences on the overall health. Excess sodium in such food items can enlarge the muscles of the heart, cause headaches, increase blood pressure, and lead to a wide range of kidney-related issues like stones. Such foods can also have a negative effect on the health of the lungs and have been linked to an increased risk of bronchitis. Additionally, too much salt in meals can also worsen the symptoms of respiratory issues like asthma. This is because sodium can cause fluid retention, leading to shortness of breath in those with lung diseases. To reduce its intake, one should start by limiting salt in their meals and instead add more herbs and spices as seasoning.
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Migraine headaches are a devitalizing experience. It completely saps the person of energy and prevents them from being productive during these episodes. There is usually a build-up to a migraine attack which is different for every individual. The phase before the actual migraine attack is known as the aura, and people may report seeing flashes of light or experiencing a tingling sensation. Below are some options for treating migraine headaches: Treatment options Nurtec Nurtec is a treatment option that helps relieve some symptoms of migraines. It reduces the severity of headaches and sensitivity to light. Nurtec is usually taken on alternate days to prevent migraines and other pain associated with the condition. Ubrelvy Ubrelvy, a fast pain-relief, is a treatment option that blocks calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the body. CGRP is associated with migraine attacks, and suppressing it goes a long way in treating the condition. Excedrin This pain reliever does not just treat migraine headaches but also pain in other parts of the body. Excedrin provides fast pain relief to the patient. Qulipta Qulipta is a treatment option that helps prevent migraines over a more extended period. However, medical professionals do not recommend this treatment option to people suffering from kidney or liver problems.
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A pet’s fur can be the perfect breeding ground for fleas and ticks. These pests can annoy your pet throughout the day. Such parasites can also cause several health problems like Lyme disease and skin infections in dogs and humans. Fortunately, pet care experts have developed several ways to rid these critters of your furry friend. Here are four handy tips that help with managing flea and tick infestations in dogs: Initiate a treatment plan If your pet develops a pest infestation, the first and foremost thing to do is get them on a treatment plan. Here are a few prescriptions that can be helpful: Bravecto® (Fluralaner) This prescription for dogs comes in two types: a chewable option or a topical solution. Bravecto is approved by the FDA and works on dogs and puppies at least six months of age who weigh at least 4.4 pounds. If you pick the chewable option for your pet, it must be given with their food once a month. Alternately, the topical solution must be applied once every 12 weeks. You can also check out special offers on Bravecto’s website for attractive discounts on their products. Simparica Another recommended treatment for fleas and ticks is the FDA-approved chewable from Simparica.

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