It’s true what they say – if you treat your car well, it will never give you problems. Car breakdowns happen only to people who are neglectful. If you know how to keep you car in top shape, you can expect it to never let you down.

Aside from a regular oil change, battery maintenance, and regular fluid check up, there are also other important car-care routines to keep in mind:

Use only the best quality fuel. Remember that fuel acts as your car’s food – if you feed your car well, it will perform better. Use only clean-burning gasoline that not only accelerates your car’s performance, but also helps clean out engine deposits and is safe to the environment.

Maintain your tires. Make it a habit to check your tires’ air pressure at least once a month. Proper tire inflation not only prevents flats, but also saves you fuel and keeps your car and engine stable. Don’t wait for your tires to get all worn out before you replace them. Experts recommend that you switch tires every two to three years, depending in your usage.

Clean your air filters. Filters act to inhibit harmful particles (such as dirt and dust) from entering the engine. If you neglect cleaning your filters, bad air may pass through and cause expensive, even irreversible, damages.

Change your wiper blades regularly. Remember that wiper blades perform the very important function of keeping debris out of your view, and they are especially helpful when you’re driving in low light or bad weather conditions. Don’t wait for your wiper blades to leave streaks or make noise before replacing them because by then, it may already be too late. Bad wipers can scratch your windshield and leave unsightly and annoying marks. If you can, try to change your wipers as the seasons change.

Summer is right around the corner, and soon you’ll be dusting off that vintage iron in your garage in anticipation of warm days and cool nights spent cruising the boulevards of your hometown and beyond. Even high gasoline prices won’t spoil the fun. But the winter of rest can really put a damper on the fun if you don’t put in a little up-front time giving your “baby” a seasonal check-up. Here are 5 important tips that can make your summer cruising a whole lot more fun:

1. Fluids – Check engine oil and coolant, transmission (manual and/or auto), differential(s), brake, power steering, clutch (if hydraulic) and battery electrolyte. Change or refill as necessary. Keep records. If any of the above is drastically low, you may have a major leak. Find the cause and repair before you hit the road. Is it time for an oil change?
2. Tires – Check air pressure, add if needed. Look at sidewalls for signs of dry-rot (dry and cracking rubber). If you see rot, it might be a good idea to replace the tire(s). Does the tread come up to at least Lincoln’s head on a penny (2/32″)? If not, better replace the tire(s).
3. Brakes – Remove, at minimum, one wheel front and rear and examine the brakes. Do the shoes/pads have adequate lining? If not, better replace them now. Are the drums or rotors scored or smooth? If so, look into getting them resurfaced or replaced. Pry up an edge of the rubber cap on a wheel cylinder and look for brake fluid. If wet, then it’s time to replace that wheel cylinder, now check them all. If a disk caliper is leaking, replace or rebuild it and check the other(s). Notice any signs of excess grease or axle lubricant? If so, now would be an excellent time to replace those seals. Chances are the brake shoes are ruined if the seals were leaking. You must replace them along with the seals. Does the park brake work? This is as important as the service brakes and should be working well. Adjust brakes as needed.
4. Chassis – Don’t forget to grease all suspension and driveline fittings. Check wheel bearings, king pins, tie rods, rubber bushings and/or ball joints for excessive play or wear. Any of these items can contribute to an unsafe vehicle, so replace or repair them as necessary.
5. Miscellaneous – Finally, perform a visual inspection of the exhaust system, looking for worn or disconnected hangers, rusted-out pipes and/or mufflers or other obvious defects. Inspect all lights on the vehicle, especially brake and turn signal lights if so equipped. A burned-out license plate lamp is a sure stop by a cop, so make sure all is well there. Put updated copies of registration and proof of insurance in the glovebox. Are the windshield wipers in good working order? Replace both if even slightly dry or torn.