Caring for Your Antique Car

If you have an antique car, you should do everything you can to keep it in great shape, both to preserve its appearance and its value. Fortunately, there’s nothing fancy you need to do to maintain it. Simply by following a recommended maintenance schedule and keeping the vehicle clean, you’ll ensure the car continues to look and run great for years to come.

Here are a few tips from a mechanic in Minneapolis, MN to help you maintain your classic car:

• Regularly change the oil: Nothing wrecks a motor faster than old or low oil levels. Therefore, you should stay up to date with your oil changes, and be sure to swap out your oil filters as well. The oil is, essentially, the lifeblood of any engine, which means you should make it a top priority for your ongoing vehicle maintenance.
• Flush the coolant: At least once a year you should have your cooling system completely flushed, no matter how old your vehicle is. Replace the old coolant with a brand new 50/50 mixture (coolant and distilled water) to help prevent your vehicle’s systems from corroding or developing any harmful mineral deposits.
• Clean and wax the car: Almost anyone who owns a classic vehicle takes a certain amount of pride in that vehicle, so why not do everything you can to keep it looking clean and fresh? Washing your vehicle regularly insures you will remove any impurities that could eat the paint’s finish. It’s also important to wash the undercarriage—salt and grime tend to get into every little nook and cranny of your vehicle. Waxing will then help you keep your paint looking its best. Ideally you should give your vehicle a good waxing every six months or so, and adding some chrome care to any chrome trim will keep it shining bright.
• Protect the interior: There are a variety of steps you can take to keep the interior of your vehicle in great condition. Keep it out of the sun to avoid UV damage and discoloration. Use leather creams, vinyl treatments and other products to preserve the leather, upholstery and other elements of your vehicle’s interior.
• Change the transmission fluid: Transmission fluid does not have to be changed as frequently as oil or coolant, but it’s still a task you need to keep up with. Classics tend to need their transmission fluid changed a little more often than newer vehicles to ensure it maintains the proper viscosity.
• Test your brakes: It’s important to regularly test your brakes just to make sure everything feels right and is operating as it should, without making any strange sounds or producing unusual sensations. You should bleed the brake system at least once a year, and keep an eye on brake pads to prevent them from wearing down or wearing unevenly.

For more information about the best ways to keep your classic car in great shape, contact a trusted mechanic in Minneapolis, MN at Quality Coaches, Inc.

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Sharon Morgan