Did you know that performing routine maintenance on your car can not only extend the life of your car but it also makes it safer and more economical. When you perform regular oil changes, every 3,000 miles, you can improve your gas mileage. Just the other day I was driving home and my car started acting very funny. First the windshield wipers weren’t going at normal speed, then the car didn’t have the “umph” it normally has, then the radio cut out, by the time I got home I wasn’t able to put the car in park. I called the service station and they said it sounded like a battery issue.

Did you know the heat of summer is likely taking its toll on your car battery. Contrary to popular belief, summer highs rather than winter lows pose the greater threat to battery life, according to the non-profit Car Care Council. Sooner or later all batteries have to be replaced. Most batteries have a life of 5 years. Here are some tips to extend the life of your battery.

Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.

If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.

Always replace a battery with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.

Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Check back here for more tips on how to extend the life of your car!