Top 5 tips to keep your 4WD in top shape

Off-roading is one of the most fun activities and adventures you can do with your four-wheel drive vehicle. Even though it’s a lot of fun, there are some risks particularly when your 4WD isn’t in good condition. A poorly maintained 4WD can put you and your passengers at risk while driving on off-road terrains. Your 4WD is also susceptible to being damaged if it isn’t well maintained, which could cost you a few thousand dollars to repair or replace parts. You can avoid these hassles by ensuring that your 4WD is in top condition at all times with these 5 tips:

Cleaning tips to keep your four-wheel drive looking ship-shape

If you want your vehicle to look its best, a regular wash is the first step. Not only will this make your car more presentable, but it will also help keep dirt from accumulating on the body and wheels, which can lead to rust.

Here are some tips for keeping your four-wheel drive looking ship-shape:

• ●      Wash the bodywork at least every six months. If you're using an automatic car wash or hose with a high-pressure nozzle, then you could possibly get away with washing less often than this—but we'd still recommend at least once every other month.
• ●      Clean the interior twice a year by vacuuming carpets and upholstery with an upholstery cleaner. You can also use mild soap and water on fabrics, leathers or vinyl surfaces (don't include dry cleaning products in here). Use specific cleaners depending on what materials need cleaning - eg: glass cleaners will be needed for glass surfaces as well as plastic ones; leather conditioners are good for maintaining leather seats/interiors etc.). Don't forget these other areas too such as dashboards/console trays etc. where dust particles gather over time – do these regularly too!

Aligning your 4WD with the terrain

Aligning your 4WD with the terrain is an essential part of maintaining it. Here are some tips for checking that everything is properly aligned:

• ●      Check the suspension - A vehicle's suspension system consists of a number of parts that work together to keep you safe when driving your vehicle over uneven terrain. If any part doesn't work as intended, it could cause damage to other parts or even harm yourself or others in a collision. To check if all is well with your suspension system, start by making sure all components are securely fastened and not damaged. Then give each component a thorough inspection under light pressure (such as sitting on the seat) to make sure they aren't loose or damaged in any way. After this step, try pushing down on each corner while driving over bumps at different speeds; if there's anything off balance here then you'll definitely notice it!
• ●      Check wheel alignment - Wheel alignment refers specifically to how far apart wheels sit from one another when viewed from above; this matters because proper alignment ensures that all four tires contact flat surfaces evenly so that no one tire wears out faster than others due to unequal traction between them (and also helps prevent accidents). You can check for proper wheel alignment by standing outside next to your car and looking at how far apart left-side wheels are compared against right-side ones—if one side appears closer than the other then something might be wrong here! You can also check by placing a straight line across both sides' treads (do this by drawing lines directly onto each tire).
• ●      Get your TYRES checked regularly and make sure they are inflated to the right pressure.
• ●      Ensure you have the right tire size for your vehicle and driving conditions – this is especially important if you do a lot of off-roading, where larger TYRES give more grip on slippery surfaces.
• ●      Keep your car serviced regularly to ensure it's running at its best efficiency – having a well-maintained 4WD can help save you money in the long run by keeping repairs down and reducing fuel costs through more efficient running.
• ●      Check your oil regularly – not just when it's due for maintenance, but at least once every two weeks or so (depending on how frequently you drive). The last thing you want is to break down on the side of the road because something wasn't working properly!
• ●      Keep the air filter clean – as well as helping keep out dirt, dust and grime from entering into engine components which could cause damage over time; keeping it clean means better performing fuel economy too!
• ●      It's important to maintain your tire pressure at the recommended level. To do so, check your vehicle handbook or talk to a mechanic. Most TYRES have a recommended inflation pressure set out on the sidewall of the tire (this is usually written in pounds per square inch). If this isn't visible (as in some very old stock), look for it on the inside edge of one side wall.
• ●      You'll want to choose a tire that's designed for your vehicle and driving conditions - if you're planning on off-roading, then make sure you get an aggressive tread pattern with lots of grooves and lugs; however, if you plan on mostly driving around town or suburbs then stick with something more like a rain tire as these will provide better grip during heavy rains.
• ●      While we're talking about rotating our TYRES - don't forget about them! This means finding out how often should I rotate my car tires? Well there's no hard and fast rule here but generally speaking most experts recommend doing it every 15 000 kilometers or 12 months whichever comes first. The idea behind rotating is simple: It helps ensure even wear across all four TYRES which leads us into our next topic:
• ●      Change your air filter: It's recommended that you change the air filter once every 12 months.
• ●      Change your engine oil filter and oil on time according to the service intervals in the owner’s manual, if you want to do even better, change your engine oil and filter in between the recommended service interval.
• ●      Fuel filters – some owners manuals don’t even say a specific time, they say wait until the light on the dash comes on! – No way, we say change your fuel filter every 20,000 kms and definitely keep a couple of spares with you on a trip!

Top three ways to boost the efficiency of your 4WD

How to prepare your TYRES for summer and winter

Keeping your air, oil and fuel filters clean

Taking care of your 4WD is good for both you and the environment.

Cleaning your 4WD is good for the environment, good for your wallet and good for you.

• ●      Keeping your 4WD clean is good for the environment because it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and prevents toxic pollutants from polluting our air, soil and water.
• ●      Keeping your 4WD clean also helps to save money. The cost of replacing parts will be reduced if you take care of them by cleaning them regularly so that they last longer. If someone in your community owns a business that cleans vehicles, consider hiring them to do it for you instead of buying expensive products at the store or hiring a professional cleaner who charges hundreds of dollars per hour to wash their own car every few months!

Conclusion

If you follow these tips and make sure to regularly check your engine oil, coolant levels and tire pressure, then your 4WD will be in good shape to keep tackling any terrain. It’s better to be safe than sorry so always check before heading out into the wild!