As a vehicle owner, there are many things that you can do on your own to make sure that the vehicle will continue to run well over time. Here are 3 things that you should be checking periodically.

Tire Inspection

It's important that you inspect your tires to know if they are in good condition. This includes checking the tread depth, air pressure, and overall tire wear. The tread depth can be checked by looking at the wear bars between the groves of the tires. If the wear bars are smooth with the treads next to them, then you know that the tires need to be replaced.

Air pressure should also be properly inflated according to the information imprinted on the side of the tire. Having a tire that is over or under-inflated is going to cause them to wear down unevenly and cause the need for early tire replacement. If the center of the tire is worn down, then your tire pressure is too high. If the wear is on the outer edge, then you have tire pressure that is too low. 

Fluid Inspection

There are a few different fluids that you should be inspecting to make sure that they are at proper levels. If you have low oil, add about half a quart of oil to the vehicle, let the oil settle, and then check the oil levels again. You should also check the color of the engine oil. If it is milky in color, you could have a problem with coolant leaking into the motor oil. 

Brake fluid has a container with a minimum and maximum indicator line on the reservoir, with the container being a translucent plastic. The engine coolant also has a similar expansion tank that holds the coolant, with a minimum and maximum line level on it as well. As long as both fluids are in between the lines, you're good to go.

Filter Inspection

The engine air filter can be accessed from under the hood, and it is typically in a box that is held shut with some clips. You can open up the box and remove the filter to see if it is in good shape or needs to be replaced based on how dirty it is. There is another filter known as the cabin air filter. This one is typically accessible from the glove box and is fairly easy to remove and inspect. 

For more information about some preventative maintenance you can do for your vehicle, contact a local auto service.