There are several ways to maintain your Mustang, most can be done in the driveway. Whether it be oil changes or car washes, keeping your Mustang up to date on it’s maintenance is essential to a healthy Mustang what will last a long time.
Owning a new car is a big responsibility and an investment. To maintain your investment, you need to do basic things such as oil changes, tire rotations, car washes, fluid changes, etc. It is also wise to keep accurate records of all your repairs so you don’t forget what you have done to your Mustang especially if you decided to sell it down the road.
Oil Changes are essential for a healthy engine. Oil changes are important because fresh oil lubricates the engine, keeping it cool and operating properly. Oil changes are recommended every 3,000 – 5,000 miles or every three months but depends on how you use your vehicle. Oil changes are fairly simple and can be done within an hour. All you need are basic tools, an oil filter, oil, towels, and a container to catch the old oil. Just remember, when you complete the oil change, dispose of it properly to avoid costly fines. If you don’t feel comfortable doing the change yourself, there are numerous and affordable places that can do it for you.
Car washes are also very important. If your Mustang is a daily driver and used in the winter time, car washes are extremely important, especially if you live in humid areas where rust is built up easily. Every year during snow storms, plows and city workers lay salt or sand. The salt and sand is commonly made up of Sodium Chloride and or Magnesium Chloride depending on where you live. These salts are important to understand as they are spread across the roadways, which will eventually be stuck to the undercarriage of your vehicle. If you fail to wash your car during the winter time, the salt can corrode your vehicle frame, leading to corrosion and weakening of your Mustang. Frame repairs are extremely costly and usually total out your vehicle. However, if you wash your car regularly, it will not be an issue. Just remember you should wash your car throughout the year and not only during the summer time.
Another thing you can do at home is basic check ups. Make sure you tires are wearing evenly and rotate your tires every six months or 6,000-8,000 miles. Make sure your wipers are working and fluid levels are full. You never know when a storm may happen and it’s better to be proactive than reactive. If your tires start to wear unevenly, odds are you might need a vehicle alignment, which is fairly cheap and won’t break the bank.
There is a lot of maintenance that will come over your time, for bigger projects it’s best to seek a trusted mechanic for big milestones on your vehicle such as 50,000 miles and 100,000 miles. When you reach this amount of miles, its safe to say you might need some parts swapped out for better performance and to keep your vehicle on the road.
