How to Maintain Your Ford

When you’re driving a Ford, whether it’s a Ranger, an Explorer, a Fusion, or any other model, you need to focus on self-maintenance. There are plenty of things that you can do for your Ford on your own, allowing it to keep running its best and looking like new.

Car Washes

Washing your car is a great way to take pride in your car, truck, or SUV. Whether you take it to a professional or you do it within your driveway, it is an important part of self-maintenance. One of the reasons for this is that it takes dirt and debris off the exterior. Otherwise, when dirt stays on the surface too long, it can eat through the clear coat and ultimately affected the paint. Additionally, a carwash is going to get rid of mud and other debris that can cause drag, slowing you down and ruining good fuel efficiency. Washing the windshield and all of your windows will also provide you with improved visibility when you are on the road.

Interior Care

It’s a good idea to take care of the interior of your Ford as well. This includes vacuuming the mats, wiping down the upholstery, and using leather wipes on various controls. As the sun beats down, UV rays can cause a number of problems within your interior. By taking good care of the interior, it is less likely to result in blistering, cracking, or anything else.

You can also do a full detailing where you get in all of the nooks and crannies. Especially if you have kids, there may be various spills of food and drink that can lead to odors. If you don’t clean up periodically, it can also cause the upholstery to deteriorate.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Throughout Minnesota, the weather changes drastically between the summer and winter months. The pressure in your tires will adjust to the temperatures outside. This can lead to having too much (or not enough) pressure in your tires. Use a gauge and check your tire pressure weekly to ensure that your tires are where they need to be.

Fill Up on Fluids

While you can always take your Ford into our service center to fill up on fluids, these are things that you can do on your own, as well. Some of the top fluids you may want to top off periodically include windshield wiper fluid and radiator coolant. You don’t have to worry about engine oil or brake fluid levels as long as you are getting your vehicle serviced regularly. However, windshield washer fluid will make it easier to keep your front and rear windshield clean as you drive around town. The radiator coolant will also help to keep your engine cool so you don’t risk it overheating.

Use the Right Fuel

You will also want to make sure to use the right fuel every time you head to the gas station. Within your owner’s manual, it will tell you what kind of fuel is going to give your Ford the best performance. Often 87 is actually the best. Although you may think that you’re giving your vehicle a “treat” when you use premium fuel, it can harm your engine. Using higher octane gasoline isn’t going to make your car go faster, perform better, or run cleaner. However, it can cause issues because higher octane fuel needs to burn hotter than what your engine may be capable of.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance

Another part of maintaining your Ford involves following the preventative maintenance schedule as outlined in the owner’s manual. You will want to visit our service center to take care of such things as:

• Oil changes

• Tire rotations

• Brake inspections

• Transmission flushes

• Filter replacements

When you prioritize preventative maintenance, you can keep your systems up and running properly throughout the year. It can also help you increase the life of your Ford so that you can enjoy its performance for many years to come.

With so many things that you can do for self-maintenance, it allows your Ford to look and perform at peak condition year after year. Even if you don’t know all that is under the hood, you can simply maintain what you do know how to do and rely on our service center at House Ford for the rest.

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