Whether you take your car to the dealer every time something is wrong or your Dad gives it a good look over whenever you head home to do laundry and steal food, there are still a few things you need to do to make sure your car won’t let you down.

One of the most important and often ignored things that can be done is regularly checking your vehicle’s oil level. To find out how to do this, look in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or online.

Checking your oil when your car is warm will give you the most accurate reading. A good practice is to check your oil when you fill up with gas. If your oil level happens to be low, make sure you know what type of oil is being used in your engine before you add more.

There are different grades of motor oil, but the majority of automotive engines use either 10W-30 or 5W-30 grades of motor oil. Some vehicles may require a different grade, so check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic to find out what type your car requires.

Changing oil at the scheduled interval is also a good way to prolong the life of your engine. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend various intervals, but a long-standing rule of thumb is that oil should be changed every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Oil degrades over time and needs to be changed often to be effective. There are many mechanic shops in Ames that will change your oil, or you can save a considerable amount of money and do it yourself.

Another important thing to check periodically is your tire pressure. Not only will this prolong the life of your tires, it will also let you know if there’s a problem. Checking tire pressure two or three times a month and before long trips is recommended. This is also a good time to take a look at your tires.

Look for cracks or irregularities on the sidewall – the part that doesn’t touch the road – and check the tread for even wear. A bump in the sidewall can mean the tire is coming apart on the inside. The cracks on the tire near the rim are called “dry rot” and often occur on older tires. These are a sign that the tires need to be replaced.

If it seems as if the tire is worn out in the middle of the tread, it means you have too much air pressure. If the sides seem to be wearing out faster than the middle, it means there’s not enough pressure in your tires. Most cars list the recommended pressure in the owner’s manual or on the sticker on the edge of the driver’s side door. Never exceed the maximum pressure rating of the tire – this information can be found on the tire itself. If the tire seems to be wearing on one side, or the front tires seem to be more worn out than the rear ones, you probably need to rotate them. You can do this at home, or take your car to a tire shop to have it done.

Another important thing to keep an eye on is your antifreeze level. Since engines get hot when they run, all cars have a cooling system that uses water to keep the engine cool. Antifreeze is an additive that changes the properties of the water, slowing the evaporation process when hot and preventing the water from freezing when it’s cold.

Making sure the level of antifreeze is correct is an important part of keeping your engine running. Antifreeze usually needs to be mixed with water before it is added. Check the directions on the container to make sure it is mixed properly. Some companies even sell pre-mixed antifreeze that is ready to be used.