Congratulate yourself on owning or potentially owning an SUV. It’s an achievement to own a durable and highly functional vehicle that can take you from city roads to the outback seamlessly. To keep it functioning well is the objective of routine maintenance. You should familiarize yourself with the dos and don’ts of SUV care to get the best performance and mileage.
As important are the parts that you purchase when it’s time for a replacement or repair. Trust genuine spare parts like genuine hilux spare parts to ensureyour SUV keeps running in good condition for many years to come.
The first point to consider in your maintenance routine is the oil change. If your SUV does a fair amount of off-road travel then you may know that using lower gears puts a great deal of pressure on the engine which leads to greater engine wear and tear. Clean engine oil minus dirt and debris allows the engine to operate smoothly. It’s best to check the owner’s manual for the oil change schedule recommendation. What is important is that the oil is changed routinely to avoid issues.
Next, tyres. Front tyres will wear out differently from the vehicle’s rear tyres. Rotating the tyres routinely will ensure even treadwear on all tyres. It also reduces vibration and will extend the life of your tyres and the suspension system.Off-balance and ill-aligned tyres can cause problems in the suspension system which are expensive to fix. Ask your mechanic to have the tyres aligned when rotating them to save on another visit. When driving if you feel the steering wheel pulling to either side, consider it a sign to have your wheels aligned. Misaligned wheels can cause uneven wear and tear on tyres and have an impact on traction.
Apart from the routine maintenance schedule, before you take your vehicle out on a long drive, check the status of all the essential fluids in your vehicle and have them topped up before you start on your journey. Check the level of engine oil, engine coolant and windshield washer liquid. Having clean air filters also help but this should be done with your regular maintenance routine rather than just before you leave on your journey. Oil filters collect dust and debris over time and need cleaning or replacement routinely to ensure it doesn’t impact the smooth functioning of the engine.
This may seem obvious, however, with exterior cleaning, timing is everything. If you have been driving in the outback and have collected a lot of dirt on your wheel’s rims, undercarriage and body, hose it down as soon as you can and give everything a good clean making sure not to let the dirt scrape the paintwork. Observe if there are any scratches and dents you need to attend to.
Last but not least, have your AC checked periodically to ensure you don’t have to sufferthrough the heat with a sudden breakdown of any of the components.
