The Average Americans Ignores These Simple Car Maintenance Tasks

Many of us take our vehicles for granted. We go out every day assuming they will turn on and get us where we need to go. However, ensuring that your car runs efficiently requires proper maintenance. It's more than just filling it with gas. There are many easy tasks you can complete to keep your car in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, the average American ignores these simple car maintenance tasks.

Do you? If so, this guide will provide essential information that you should consider before you get behind the wheel again. These are also great life skills for children.

This is one of the simple car maintenance tasks that's best done by a mechanic.

When you go to the mechanic, ask them to check your timing belts. They ensure that your engine runs properly. If you forget, the belt could tear and break other components under your hood.

This is one of the most essential car maintenance tasks that everyone must do.

Do not put off changing your oil or it could be catastrophic. Oil is necessary for the performance of your vehicle. If you don't have lubrication in your engine, it could fail. The cost of a new engine is huge.

This is another one of the simple car maintenance tasks that's easy, but most people put off.

Rotate your tires once or twice per year to ensure that they don't wear down. If you don't replace them, your car could start vibrating or the tires could wear out completely.

This is one of the most forgotten tasks.

You should change your air filters at the intervals recommended by your vehicle's manual. Failure to change air filters can reduce engine performance. Plus, you'll likely get fewer miles per gallon.

Many people take the fact that their vehicle will stop for granted. What should you do?

Have your brakes checked whenever you go in for maintenance. If you hear your brakes grinding when you stop, then have them checked at your nearest convenience. You don't want your brakes going out.

This is one of the simple car maintenance tasks that a mechanic can do.

This is one that many people don't think about. However, you should flush your cooling system to avoid rust and debris build-up. You'll keep your engine running smoothly.

Many people forget the transmission.

Check your car owner's manual for when to change your transmission fluid. Old fluid can cause your vehicle to overheat, and shifting can become more difficult.

The main piece that enables your car to turn must be maintained.

One of the simple car maintenance tasks you'll want to do is to clean your battery. More specifically, clean the battery terminals if you notice corrosion.

Not every time, but occasionally.

At least once per month, check the tire pressure when you stop for gas. Check the side of your tire for the necessary PSI, and don't fill it more than that.

They sure help when it starts raining!

Once you notice that your windshield wipers aren't working properly and are streaking, consider changing them. The last thing you need is for them to fail when the next major storm comes around.

This is perhaps the easiest of the simple car maintenance tasks.

Take the time on a regular basis to check all of the lights on your car to ensure that they're illuminating and working properly. That includes headlights, hazard lights, brake lights, and turn signals.

If you don't, you should.

Regularly check your seatbelts in front and back and ensure that they buckle properly.

This task is often missed.

You may not realize it but the cabin air filter is what is responsible for filtering the pollen and dust out of the inside of your car. It can get in through your ventilation system. Replace it so you can be healthy while you drive.

There's more to checking brakes than just waiting to hear them grind.

The brake fluid is what helps your brakes to stop the car as smoothly as possible. Over time, the fluid can evaporate, so you need to replace it.

There's more to gas than just putting fuel in the car.

Clean out your fuel system every 30,000 miles. A mechanic can tell you what's best for your particular vehicle. By doing so, you'll remove the gunk from your fuel injectors, and your car will accelerate much more smoothly.

The transmission is another essential component of your vehicle.

Check under the hood and replace your transmission fluid when necessary. The fluid is responsible for lubricating your gears. Let it dry up and you could have big problems. Do this every 100,000 miles.

Yes, there's more to it than just turning a wheel.

Without power steering, turning the wheel of your car would be next to impossible, especially if you needed to turn quickly. Replace the power steering fluid so you're never faced with difficult driving.

Cars are more complicated than you think!

The differential of your vehicle is the gearbox at the rear of your vehicle that helps to propel your car forward. This is a part that you should have inspected after 60,000 miles. It's probably in fine shape, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Yes, it will need to be replaced at some point.

By the end of 5 years, your battery will likely need to be replaced. If you don't replace it, one day you'll walk out to your car, and it won't turn on. Replacing the battery is a very easy process.

This is one of the most simple car maintenance tasks you can do.

It can be scary when a light turns on on your dashboard, but don't ignore it. It can mean something minor, or it could be a big deal. Have the car inspected just in case.