Jenny's Blog: Car Maintenance Tips - Get To Know Your Automobile

Ah, the start of a new year. There seems to be something about the word "new" that inspires us. For those of you who are well into performing your new year's resolutions, I hope they're going well for you!

For those of you still kicking around the idea, or looking for an area you can resolve to improve, I present you this challenge. How about getting to know your car better? Studies show Americans on average spend about two and half hours a day in our cars. They do a lot for us, but what little things do we do for them?

I for one tend to personify my car and talk to it occasionally. I plead with it when I'm driving through harsh winter weather, I apologize to it when I accidentally go over a curb and I cheer it on when it handles slick conditions well. But how well do I know her? (Yes, it's a "she".) Not very well I admit.

So here are six areas we can get to know our cars better, and what better time than the start of a new year to get better acquainted with our cars.

Check your vehicle's exterior lights; headlight, tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights to make sure they're working properly. Seriously, I never know when a brake light is out unless I have the good fortune of driving in front of someone I know and they care enough to tell me know about it. But really, there's a better way.

Check your tire air pressure. Low tire pressure impacts a number of things, from gas mileage to how your car handles and no, you can't judge air pressure by looking at it. Always use a tire-pressure gauge. Find the air-pressure specifications for your car's tires; look for a sticker inside the driver's side door or in the owner's manual. Unscrew the plastic cap on the air valve. Press the tire-pressure gauge against the valve and hold it down firmly. If you hear a hissing noise, that means you are letting air out and you're doing it right. Press down harder. Read the measurement on the gauge. Add air if needed but don't overfill the tire.

Check your tires for wear. I'm told when a tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch, tires must be replaced. Here's a good way to check: Stick a penny, Lincoln head down, into one of the grooves that goes completely around the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace the tire.

Check your engine oil level. You need to pop the hood for this task. Find the dipstick: It's a long piece of metal sticking out of the engine with a loop at the end which makes it easy to grab. Pull the dipstick all the way out and wipe it with a rag or paper towel. Put the "clean" dipstick back in like you found it, and then pull it back out again and look at the end. If the oil level is below the line marked "full," that means you're low on oil. I'm told many dipsticks just have two lines on it, and in that case the oil level should be halfway between the two lines.

If you need to add oil, unscrew the filler cap usually marked "engine oil" and fill as needed. But remember, just like salt, you can always add more but you can't take it out.

Check your engine coolant/antifreeze level. It's recommended that your engine is cold when you do this. Pop the hood and look for the engine coolant reservoir. It's usually labeled "engine coolant only." Then look for a line on the side of the reservoir labeled "cold" or "full": That's the level it should be filled. Add coolant as needed.

Check and refill your windshield wiper fluid. Make sure your engine is turned off, and pop the hood open. Look for a plastic jug looking container: That's the windshield wiper fluid reservoir, not to be confused with the engine coolant reservoir. Flip open the windshield wiper reservoir and add fluid only if the level is below the line printed on the jug. Fill the reservoir to the line.

These six simple steps will strengthen, and perhaps lengthen, your relationship with your car.