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Car Care Tips to more easily sell your used car fast

The following list of Car Care tips is meant as an ongoing checklist of things to take care of way before you need to sell your used car fast. Though some of these tips can be undertaken immediately, others like oil change frequency require that you do proactive maintenance on your engine. All these tips at one time or another have helped me sell my car fast.

 

Battery

Check it every month. Replace it when it becomes dirty or as part of a tune-up. It is easy to reach, right under the hood, in a carbureted engine; or in a rectangular box at the forward end of the air duct hose assembly. Selling a used car means taking care of corrosion issues on your car and the acidity of the battery compartment makes this a great place to start your preventative maintenance.

 

Belts

Engine belts and hoses should always be in strong shape with easy bending qualities. Any hose or belts showing dried out rubber that is frayed, glazed, or starting to show too many shredded threads should be replaced immediately. Also pay close attention to the metal clamps that hold the hoses in place. Make sure to tighten these clamps. Hoses that look bad or show excessive softness or hardness should be replaced. Selling a used car fast is easy when you take care of these small but very important details.

 

Brake Fluid

Check the brake fluid every couple of months. Pay attention to your car's brake master cylinder reservoir lid. If necessary, flip off the retainer clip and remove the lid or unscrew the plastic lid, depending on which type your vehicle has. Add needed fluid and check for possible leaks throughout the system. Pay special attention not to overfill the reservoir.

 

Motor Oil

Of all the tips that have helped me sell my used car fast, this one entails the most foresight ahead of time. Detailed attention paid to something as seemingly insignificant as checking a used car's oil once a month can pay off big when you want to sell your used car fast. Checking your oil means removing your oil dipstick mounted on the engine, wiping it clean with a paper or rag, then re-inserting the dipstick into its tube (the engine).

Remove the dipstick a second time and inspect the fluid level. Your oil dipstick should have notches indicating if the oil level is low. Add oil if necessary. To maintain peak performance, your used car's oil should be completely drained and replaced every 4,000 miles or 90 days, whichever comes first. Newer cars interval could be longer intervals so check your owners manual. Older, high mileage cars could be less.

Remember to always replace the oil filter whenever the oil is changed. The absolute minimum is twice a year. If your car has an electronic oil-change indicator on the instrument cluster, don't exceed its warning.

 

And now a word about the different types of motor oil.

Premium Conventional Oil

standard on all late model new-cars. Most major oil brands have one for service level SL, available in several viscosities (degrees of oil thickness). Auto manufacturers often specify a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for those cars in colder climates. The slightly heavier 10W-30 oil can be used by cars driven in warmer or less extreme weather conditions. These ratings cover just about every used vehicle on the road.

Full Synthetic Oil

Full synthetic oils are made for modern high-tech engines used in sports cars and in most high end luxury cars. The oils of this type must pass stringent special tests and display better, longer range engine performance in several important areas, from viscosity index to protection against deposits. Synthetics are often favored in more extreme climates because of the way they flow better at low temperatures and keep peak lubricity at high temps. The high cost of these oils compared to conventional oil means that only the most expensive and high performance autos are recommended to use this oil type. Lower performance autos are better served by conventional oils. As always, read and follow your owner's manual.

Synthetic Blend Oil

These oils are a hybrid of synthetic oil mixed with conventional oil, and overall are formulated to provide protection for somewhat heavier loads and high temperatures. This type of motor oil is less volatile and is good for use in warmer climates because they evaporate slower than conventional oil, which reduces oil loss and increases fuel economy. Synthetic blend oils are often a good alternative for those drivers who want a little better engine protection for less cost than a full synthetic oil.

Higher Mileage Oil

Late model used vehicles are staying on the road longer than ever before. For those used car owners who intend to keep their autos a long time, there is also the option of using special oil formulated especially for higher-mileage vehicles. Almost two-thirds of the vehicles on the road have more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. Check with your local auto parts store to find specialized higher mileage oils.

Exhaust

Loose or broken exhaust clamps and supports can lead to bigger problems for your used car. Check for holes in muffler or pipes and those people living along the coast should guard against rusted parts from all the damp, salty air. California's stringent smog laws require that your mufflers be in perfect operating condition.

Lights

Make sure that all your lights are clean and working, including the brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. Keep spare bulbs and fuses in your vehicle. Often a non-working light is simply a burned out bulb. Rarely will it be the result of simple short circuits but can be fixed for little money. The resale value on a used car with faulty lighting can take a nose-dive way in excess of the cost of fixing this simple problem.

Power Steering Fluid

Examine the power steering fluid level once evey couple of months. Check it by removing the reservoir dipstick. Add fluid if the level is down and inspect the attached pump and hoses for leaks. If the steering wheel squeaks too much when you turn it, you can rest assured you need to replenish your power steering. Also look for leaks. Power steering hoses wear out over time and they can be difficult to service or replace for the home/shadetree mechanic. This is one time where you'll defnitely want to hire a professional, trustworthy auto mechanic.

Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers that need to be replaced often suffer from oil seepage.You can test shock action by bouncing the car up and down. The car should stop bouncing when you step back. Worn or leaking shocks should be replaced. Always replace shock absorbers in pairs.

Tires

Keep tires inflated to recommended pressure. Any bulges on the tires indicate that they should be immediately replaced. If your tire tread is unevenly worn down, replace the whole tire even if there is plenty of tread left on most of the tire. Also have the wheel alignment checked on your car. These are problems that often cause uneven tread wear. Obviously, if your used car is showing balding tires, get them replaced with new ones. Few used car accessories command a higher price or helped me sell my used car fast like a really good set of tires.

Transmission Fluid

Check transmission fluid monthly with engine warm and running, and the parking brake on. Shift to drive, then to park. Remove dipstick, wipe dry, insert it and remove it again. Add the approved type fluid, if needed. Never overfill.

Washer Fluid

Even though it's a maintence itenm that is not criical to your cars mecahnnical condition, it is one of those little details that buyers are used car buyers are cncious of. Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir full. Use some of it to clean off the wiper blades.

Wiper Blades

Inspect the windscreen wiper blades whenever you clean your windshield. Do not wait until the rubber is worn or brittle to replace them. They should be replaced at least once per year, and more often if smearing occurs.