New year, same ride: Fresh car care habits for 2025

Hello car owners, and welcome to a fresh new beginning in 2025. Forget what happened or what you did last year and concentrate on the practices and habits you’ll adopt this year.

We are referring to car care and maintenance that you’ll be exercising, think of it one of your New Year’s resolutions. Because like your health, your car’s health needs to be properly cared for, or else things will go downhill in front of your eyes. And believe us when we say it hurts, it bothers seeing your beloved car’s not performing as it used to. At this point, you can either buy a new car (which is not feasible for many) or start taking care of your car diligently.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the key car care tips you should follow thoroughly without fail, and believe us in no time you’ll start to enjoy the perks of doing so.

Also Read: Surviving the monsoon: 7 Best practices for driving in low visibility

Top car maintenance advice for 2025

#1 Make car maintenance a regular affair

Your car needs regular health checkups, just like you, to ensure its long and smooth running on the Filipino roads. To do so, ask your mechanic or the authorized service center personnel about the car’s service and maintenance requirements. Make sure to follow the given schedule without fail. Most routine maintenance includes the following -

• Oil change
• Brake inspection
• Tyre check-ups among other essential services

Benefit: This small practice will ensure the efficient and smooth operation of your vehicle and would also prevent the owner from the financial burden of a costly repair (due to breakdown or other preventable damage).

#2 Keep an eye on the fluids

Several fluids, including oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid, play a crucial role in a car's smooth operation and performance. Therefore, it becomes essential for a car owner to keep an eye on these fluids and ensure that they are at a proper level. While the fluids can be checked at home, professional help is also available.

Benefit: This practice will ensure your vehicle performs to the best of its ability.

Tips to check car fluids at home - Engine oil:  Open the hood, and find the oil dipstick (make sure the car is parked on a flat surface & is cool). Pull it out and clean it with a cloth. Put it back in, pull it up again, and check the oil level against the marked recommended level. If the level is low, it's time to top up. If the oil is too thick and dirty, drain it out completely and put in a new engine oil. Transmission oil: Start the ignition, and keep the engine running and warm. Repeat the dipstick process mentioned above. If the transmission oil is low, restock it. If it appears brown, black, or burnt, instead of red, replace it. Brake oil: Get your car’s manual or look for a container labeled brake fluid. The brake oil does not decrease, as it should not be consumed by the vehicle. A low level of oil indicates a leak or worn-out brakes.  Coolant: Open the car’s hood (make sure the engine is cooled). Look for the radiator, as coolant is present inside.  Open the radiator's cap and check the coolant level. If below the recommended marking, top it up (make sure to use the same coolant type). Power steering fluid Wired and creak sounds from the steering indicate low power steering fluid. Check once by opening the hood and locating the reservoir. The fluid’s level can be checked from outside itself. If low, it indicates a leak. It is advisable to take the car to a mechanic.

#3 Have a look at the tires

Your car takes you to places, but all the dirt and debris get to the tires, so it becomes crucial to have a look at them from time to time. Make it a point to regularly check the tyre pressure and tread depth (i.e., the depth of the grooves). Need? Well, driving a car with worn-out tires is very dangerous. There could be issues like low road grip and too much fuel consumption.

Benefit: One of the key benefits of checking your car’s tyres regularly is a better grip on the road and good mileage.

How to check the tread depth of a tire?

• Park the car on a flat surface (even and wide); keep the ignition off.
• Apply the parking brake with the first gear engaged.
• Begin the inspection
  - by using a coin (place it into the thread, register how deep the coin goes, to get an idea of the thread depth)
  - by tread depth gauge, for accurate measurements (depth below 1.6 mm is an indicator of tyre change).

#4 Keep the brakes top-notch

It is no joke to take brake safety lightly, it is not good for the safety of passengers & drivers in the car and others on the road. From now on make it a practice to have the brakes inspected at least once a year (that’s not much) or more, in case of a performance issue or an unusual sound.

Here are some brake maintenance tips, in addition to regular inspections -

• Change brake pads; most manufacturers recommend changing them every 30,000 to 60,000 km.
• Always go for high-quality brake pads specifically designed for the model, as cheap ones wear out quickly
• Bleed the brakes (process of removing air from the braking system) every two years or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Clean the rotors to prevent premature wear and tear of the braking system.
• Try not to overload the car, as it puts strain on the brain system and leads to premature wear and tear.
• Avoid applying the brake suddenly and with too much pressure for prolonged periods of time; this will shorten the system's lifespan.
• Avoid hard braking, it puts a lot of pressure on the system. Just be mindful when driving.

Benefits Your braking system will wear out over time; however, following the above-mentioned practices will prevent early damage that would compromise your and others' safety on the road.

#5 Take those warning lights seriously

Did you know that dashboard warning lights are how your car communicates with you when something is not right? So, do listen and provide the help your car needs. Usually, when the car is started, all the dashboard lights illuminate briefly. However, occasionally one light might stay on, indicating an issue. If you choose to ignore them, a small problem could turn it into a big, more expensive, and dangerous issue.

Some common car dashboard warning lights are -

• Check engine light - It indicates an issue with the engine (spark plug fault or some failure).
• Tyre pressure warning light - It indicates low tyre pressure.
• ABS warning light - Signals an issue with the car’s anti-lock braking system.
• Brake warning light: There is an issue with the brakes. It can be the brake components or the fluid.
• Battery warning light - A sign that battery charging isn't working/ car is powered by battery alone.
• Airbag warning light - Indicates an issue with the airbag sensors.
• Traction or Stability control light: This light indicates that the car’s stability control system is either partially or fully off.
• Coolant level warning light - Indicates that the car is overheating.
• Unlock gear selector light - Found on automatic cars, it tells the driver to step on the brakes to unlock the gear selector.
• Low fuel light - Indicates that the vehicle is running on low fuel.

#Tip 6 Keep the car clean inside and out

A clean car not only feels and looks presentable but is also more fun to drive. This year, set a goal to wash and clean your car regularly, at least three times a week (if not more). Make sure to remove dirt and debris and all the junk food packets and bottles from the cabin. Use an air freshener as well. For the exterior, we’d suggest a protective wax coating to maintain the car’s shine and paint.

Useful ways to tidy up your car -

• One of the most dirty spots in the car is the cupholders. Due to their design, they are a bit tricky to clean. We’d suggest fitting a sock over a cup, spraying a little all-purpose cleaner on the surface, and twisting the cup around. Before you know it, all the dirt will stick to the sock.
• Put a silicon baking cup on the cupholders, so that no dirt goes beyond them, plus they are easily replaceable.
• Keep a duster in the dashboard, to remove any dirt that you notice.
• Use a mini expanding file to keep all your car documents in one place.
• If with a pet, using a waterproof backseat cover is suggested to keep the upholstery clean and dry.
• Transform your old floor mats by using a tough laundry stain remover.
• A carpet cleaner comes in handy when you want to remove stains from the upholstery fabric.
• If you have a front-facing car seat for kids, it is advisable to place kick mats behind the front seats to protect the leather or upholstery from kids' dirty shoes.

Benefit: A clean car offers a great vibe and after a long day who doesn’t like heading home in a comforting, good-smelling vehicle.

#Tip 7 Be prepared for emergencies

It is advisable to always be prepared for any sort of emergency situation, such as an accident, car breakdown, or calamity. How? Have an emergency kit ready in your car, which will hold items like a flashlight, first-aid kit, jumper cables, non-perishable snacks, reflective triangle, and car smartphone charger.

Bottom line

Keeping your car neat and clean is sure a commitment, to follow which requires strong will and commitment. But we are sure that after seeing the end results and its benefits, you’ll be convinced and motivated to follow this practice.

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