Preparing For Car Emergencies

Posted on: 7 August 2015

Breaking down on the side of the road can be stressful. If you are a woman, being stranded with a broken down car can be downright dangerous. Fortunately, avoiding breakdowns is easy when you take the time to perform some simple maintenance on your vehicle.

Here are two things you can do to keep your car running right, and help you avoid a potentially dangerous situation in the future.

1. Check your tire pressure regularly.

The air pressure in your car's tires can play a significant role when it comes to your safety. Without the right air pressure, a tire could blow out and leave you stranded on the side of the road. Taking the time to check your tire pressure regularly will help you avoid a potential tire failure.

Check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations when it comes to the right tire pressure for your vehicle. Make it a point to check your tires first thing in the morning while they are still cold, since warm tires can give a false-positive reading. Press an air pressure gauge securely onto the valve stem, and make a note of the reading so you know whether you need to add air to or release air from your tires.

2. Change out you dirty oil filter.

As a woman, you might be intimidated at the thought of getting under your car to replace a soiled oil filter. This maintenance task is easier than it sounds and, since oil is the lifeblood of your car's engine, it's an important task to complete every 3 months if you want to avoid being stranded by a broken down car.

Invest in a set of ramps and some oil filter wrenches to make swapping out your oil filter easier. Drive your vehicle onto the ramps and set the parking brake to keep it securely in place. Use your owner's manual to locate the oil drain plug. Unscrew the plug and let the oil in your car drain into a catch pan. Once the oil has completely drained out, pull out the old filter and replace it with a new one. Fill your car back up with oil, and you will be one step closer to avoiding a vehicle breakdown on the side of the road.

Caring for a car can be overwhelming for many women. If you want to avoid the need for expensive towing services and you don't want to get stranded on the side of the road when your car breaks down, be sure to take the time to check your tire pressure and change out dirty oil filters on a regular basis.

Top learn more, contact a company like Collins Service Center.