In the car world, you will hear a lot of key things abbreviated, like mpg, mph, ABS, hp, and 4WD. Each abbreviation is important, and they each mean something different—TLC is not different. So what does TLC mean for vehicles, and why should you care?
In this article, I will examine the meaning of TLC as well as offer you some practical steps to help you take care of your vehicle.
What Does TLC Mean in Cars?
The abbreviation TLC means “Tender Loving Care.” In the automotive world, it is a term used to talk about how to maintain or care for your vehicle. When your vehicle receives TLC, it is less likely to breakdown, keeps you out of harm’s way, and keeps your money in the bank instead of on costly repairs.
With a little TLC, you can extend the life of your vehicle. It is a form of self-insurance to protect the thing you love.
How to Provide TLC to a Car?
#1. Change Oil/Filter.
The simplest and most basic maintenance task can be performed by a casual car owner, and that is an oil change, including changing the oil filter. An oil change will help keep the engine lubricated and running well, while poor oil will only add contaminants and wear on engine parts.
How often you change the oil and filter depends on the manufacturer and the type of oil you use. You can find that information in your vehicle’s service manual.
In general, most manufacturer guidelines suggest to change conventional oil every 3,000-5,000 miles and synthetic oil is generally good for 7,500-10,000 miles.
#2. Check/Change Fluids.
Besides engine oil, you also have coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Each of these fluids is a different color, which makes identifying a leak easy!
Some of these fluids will need to be kept at specific intervals depending on your vehicle and what the manufacturer recommends. Some you will just top off when necessary.
Regardless of the maintenance schedule, you want to verify that you check your fluids from time to time to ensure all major systems are operating properly!
#3 Rotate Tires.
Rotating your car tires will maximize the life of the tread and enhance handling. For average use in day-to-day vehicles, tire rotation should take place approximately every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Many people tie tire rotation in with an oil change to make things easy.
Tires on the front of the vehicle perform differently than those in the rear, so tread will not wear evenly. Rotating the tires is important to help assure that the tread wears in a consistent pattern.
Some cars do not rotate the tires in the same direction either. Tires may be moved in a rearward cross, X-petition, or forward cross, depending on the make and type of vehicle.
#4. Replace Brakes.
The brake system on your vehicle is designed to stop the vehicle before collision. The longer the brake pads are not changed, the longer it takes for the vehicle to stop. Your safety is worth the expense of changing brake pads or rotors.
Good brake pads have a wear indicator that tells you when it is time to change them but also be smart here and get it inspected regularly.
Generally, brake pads need to be replaced between 25,000 miles to 50,000 miles and the rotors generally need to be changed between 30,000 miles to 70,000 miles. Sometimes the worn rotors can be resurfaced and other times the worn rotors need replacements.
#5. Check Battery.
Car batteries have a limited lifespan, lasting only three to five years. When the car battery dies, it can be a difficult situation to deal with, especially when you are late for work, but you can avoid this inconvenience simply by giving your battery a little TLC.
Every once in a while, you can visually inspect the battery. It should look good and you should not see any corrosion on the connectors. If you do see any corrosion, you should use a baking soda and water mixture to clean it off.
You can also get the battery tested for free at most auto parts store to check the condition of the battery. Each time you run your battery to its limit or drop it in extremely cold weather can affect the battery to last longer. Anytime you see the battery appears to be struggling to provide power, it is time to replace the battery.
#6. Keep it Clean.
Although keeping your car clean may not seem a top priority, there are great benefits to doing so. When you clean and wax the exterior, you keep the paint looking great. If you have ever had a auto body or paint repair, you know how expensive it can be, so you want to avoid that in the future.
Cleaning the inside of the car is equally important and, with a little TLC, you will help your car continue to look new and avoid issues that affect resale value.
When it comes time to sell your car, the goal is that you can get top dollar for it and use those proceeds to help pay for your next car.
None of the items in our guide are hard to look after and most can be done at home with some basic mechanical skills. Make an ongoing investment of time to look after your vehicle and your investment will pay off in the end.