15 Inside and Out Car Care Tips

Life & Home>Maintenance & Repair

August 12, 2020 | Read time: 3

We're highlighting ways you can care for your car, inside and out. If you go the extra mile for your vehicle, you can help prevent bigger, more expensive problems from popping up in the future. Things like a dirty vehicle may not seem like a big deal, but even a small layer of grime has the potential to prematurely age your car.

 

Exterior Car Care

  1. Regularly wash and wax your car.
    Keeping the exterior free from road salt, pollen, and tree sap can help your paint job last and prevent rust.1>

  2. Fix the dents and dings.
    A dent cracks your car’s sealant over the paint, leading the way for rust and corrosion to jump right in.2

  3. Use dressing on your tires.
    Prevent your tires from prematurely aging with tire dressings that are labeled as shine creators and tire protectors.3

  4. Check the bulbs.
    Regularly check your vehicle for burned out headlights or signal lights to stay safe on the roads at night and in bad weather conditions.4

  5. Change wiper blades and fluid.  
    Wiper fluid and wiper blades keep your windshield clear but over time the rubber can become cracked, misshapen, or stiff.5

 

Interior Car Care

  1. Make sure the defroster works.
    Essential for getting rid of icy or foggy windows, your defroster system could be affected by malfunctioning buttons, problems in the vents, low antifreeze or even a blockage in the fresh air intake.6

  2. Test the air conditioner.
    Starting your vehicle’s AC regularly can make sure you’re aware of any issues before it becomes a larger problem.7

  3. Detail the cabin area.
    Just like cleaning your home, deep cleaning the carpet, leather, and surfaces of your car will keep it fresh and protected.8

  4. Lose the clutter.
    Jackets or blankets that seem to be covering valuables in your car could tempt potential thieves, but just plain upholstery isn’t likely to attract interest.9

  5. Change the air filter.
    Air filters can become stiff and brittle over time so changing it will keep the air in your car’s cabin fresh and clean.10

 

Engine Car Care

Learn how here.

  1. Get your brakes serviced.
    In a National Motor Vehicle study, brake-related problems caused 22 percent of critical car crashes.11

  2. Replace or refill all fluids.
    Watch for leaks on the ground and regularly check the levels of your coolant, wiper fluid, and oil.12

  3. Test the battery.
    Most automotive parts stores can do a free battery check, so you aren’t caught off guard when your battery stops holding a charge.

  4. Check your tire pressure.
    According to a Department of Transportation survey, nearly 12 percent of the nation’s passenger cars have at least one tire underinflated by 25 percent or more.13

  5. Watch for aging belts and hoses.
    Your mechanic can check make sure your belts and hoses are connected and secure when you take your car in for an oil change.

Always refer to your owner’s manual to find the best preventative maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Breakdowns can happen when you least expect it but the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card can help you stay on the road with six months promotional financing on parts, service, and repairs of $199 or more. * Plus, it’s accepted at over 200,000 gas stations nationwide across all major gas brands** Be prepared and find a location or apply for your card today.

  1. How Often Should You Wash Your Car? How Stuff Works

  2. Best Tire Dressing Best Auto Detailing Tips

  3. When to Use Your Headlights DMV

  4. How long do windshield wiper blades last? How Stuff Works

  5. 5 Essential Things to Know About the Defrosting System in Your Car Your Mechanic

  6. How to Fix Your Car's Air Conditioner WikiHow

  7. How to Detail Your Car DMV

  8. 9 Ways to Keep Your Car Safe on the Road Smarter Travel

  9. How often should an engine air filter be changed? Testing Autos

  10. Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  11. How to Winterize Your Car DMV.org

  12. The Problem U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

 

*, ** Subject to credit approval. * Minimum monthly payments required. See merchants or mysynchrony.com/carcare for promotional financing details and merchant locations. ** Valid everywhere Synchrony Car Care™ credit card is accepted in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Gas station purchases are not eligible for promotional financing.

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