10 Ford maintenance tips
Ford cars require regular maintenance to ensure that they run smoothly. However, some Ford owners don’t realize that even minor issues can cost them hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs. Sometimes, such issues occur due to improper care or neglect. Keep reading to discover useful Ford maintenance tips.
What does a Ford maintenance plan cover?
Ford premium maintenance protects against routine maintenance tasks and replacements of normal wear and tear items that require periodic attention such as oil changes, air filter changes, tire rotations, brake pads, and wiper blades.
Below is a list of things that typical Ford maintenance plans cover:
- Engine oil and filter changes
- Multi-point inspections
- Tire rotations
- Brake pads and linings
- Shock absorbers/struts
- Spark plugs
- Clutch discs
- Engine belts
- Engine coolant hoses, clamps and o-ring seals
- Wiper blades
- Diesel exhaust fluid fill whenever a scheduled maintenance service is performed at a dealership
Maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly
10 Ford maintenance tips
There are many things that can go wrong with your Ford. Below are tips on how to maintain your Ford vehicle.
Routine maintenance
You should have regular routine service checks performed on your vehicle. For your Ford to attain peak functionality, regular maintenance is essential. To figure out when to take your vehicle in for a check-up, you should check your the owners’ manual.
Oil and filter replacements
Your Ford needs an oil and filter change every 5000-7000 miles or every 6 months. The oil in your car keeps all the parts lubricated and reduces the wear and tear on these components. An oil and filter change should not exceed 3000 miles if you drive an old Ford vehicle, or if you drive under special conditions. These conditions include driving in heavy traffic, hauling loads, off-roading, or driving on dirt roads.
Rustproofing
While a lot of the maintenance issues that you encounter are covered by your complimentary maintenance insurance, and seen to by Ford-trained technicians, there are additional things that you should do such as rustproofing your vehicle. Applying an anti-rust treatment will not only protect the beautiful paintwork on the body of your Ford, but it will also protect its underbelly, which is where many key parts are located.
Rotate your tires
Ford owners should pay attention to tire maintenance because, if neglected, there can be serious problems down the road. There are other tire-related maintenance factors to remember, such as filling them with air and checking their pressure. Regular tire maintenance helps ensure that your tires are in top condition when driving in heavy rain or snow. Experts recommend rotating your tires every 5000 to 8000 miles.
Watch your dashboard
Your Ford is a very advanced automobile that communicates with your dashboard when something is wrong. There are dozens of warning lights in its computer system, and you may not know what they all indicate. Make sure to ask your mechanic when these signals appear so that they can take care of them. Usually, there is an easy solution, but a warning light ignored can snowball into a larger problem.
Brake inspections
If there’s any part of your vehicle which needs to function perfectly, it is the brakes. Brakes should be replaced after around 50,000 miles, but you may require new ones sooner depending on how often you drive. Rotors will last much longer, but they should also be inspected regularly.
Coolant flush
Maintaining your car’s cooling system is important no matter where you live. However, extreme temperatures make regular inspections of this crucial component of your Ford even more necessary. Waste material can build up in old antifreeze, making it difficult for this vital fluid to function effectively. A coolant flush is an easy solution to this problem.
Change engine air filter
The engine air filter is a vital component of your Ford’s performance. This filter protects against dust and debris entering your engine, thereby ensuring that your vehicle is always running smoothly. When an air filter gets dirty, it can reduce your Ford’s gas mileage so it’s important to change it regularly.
Test your lights
In addition to having functional headlights and taillight bulbs, your vehicle should also have functioning brake lights and hazard flashers. These help alert drivers behind you that you might be braking or slowing down. If these lights aren’t working properly, you may end up putting yourself and others on the road in danger. You should bring your car to a garage immediately if any of the lights stop working. Your mechanic will be able to tell whether the problem is minor or major, and what needs to be done.
Check your batteries
Cold weather and other external factors can cause issues for car owners everywhere. They affect not only the physical body of the vehicle, but can also the batteries. Having a fully-charged battery is vital to keeping your vehicle running smoothly.
However, cold temperatures cause car batteries to lose power quicker, which is why having a fully charged battery should be a priority. A good mechanic can perform a voltage test, which measures the amount of electricity your battery holds at different levels. If there is insufficient charge, your car won’t start.
Rust protection services
Vehicle maintenance is essential. However, it is important to recognize that not all cars are created the same therefore require different maintenance checks. For example, Ford Escape maintenance differs from Ford Fiesta maintenance. It therefore helps to know general maintenance techniques that are useful on all types of cars such as rustproofing. At Antirouilles Champlain, we offer different rustproofing packages to protect your car.