Getting a new car is always a memorable and special moment. After buying a car, the excitement builds as you dream of all the places you’ll go with your new ride. Typically, drivers are eager to hit the road and test out the car’s performance.
However, this car salesman recommends doing some studying before putting the pedal to the metal.
TikToker Rob Demmer (@robdemmer) posted a video listing out all the things you should understand before hitting the road with your new car. Does anyone actually bother to do this, though?
The post has nearly 6,000 views as of this writing. It prompted an insightful discussion among viewers, and many offered additional steps you should take before driving your new car.
What Is the First Thing You Should Do After Buying a New Car?
In his post, Demmer claims the first thing you should do after buying a car is to take out the owner’s manual and understand the required maintenance. Definitely not the sexiest thing to do, but there’s no denying it’s smart.
“People often neglect basic maintenance after they get a new car. You should always know what your car’s required service maintenance is and how often it needs to be done. Not knowing this can end up costing you more money in repairs if you don’t properly take care of your vehicle,” Demmer writes in the caption.
Routine car maintenance is essential for the safety, reliability, and protection of your investment, and it helps prevent expensive repairs and preserves your vehicle’s value, according to Kelley Blue Book.
It’s no secret that being on top of car maintenance can extend your car’s life and overall everyday performance.
What Should You Look for in the Owner’s Manual?
Demmer goes on to list out the following things you’ll need to know about your new car:
What type of oil your car takes.
Oil change intervals.
Tire rotation intervals.
Cabin air filter intervals.
Picking the Right Oil
To begin, understanding the type of oil your car needs is essential for ensuring the engine thrives. Valvoline reports there are four oils to know: conventional, synthetic, synthetic blend, and high mileage.
Conventional oil: widely used in old cars.
Synthetic oil: created in laboratory conditions using various chemical compounds.
Synthetic blend oil: a combination of conventional and synthetic oil.
High mileage oil: for vehicles with more than 75,000 miles.
Picking the wrong oil can decrease fuel efficiency and reduce the engine’s life. Ensuring the correct oil is used in the engine is crucial for maintaining proper upkeep.
Changing Your Oil
While on the topic of oil, let’s discuss oil changes. Regular oil changes improve your engine’s performance, extend its longevity, and help your car achieve its peak gas mileage, according to Progressive. Clean oil keeps the engine and all its controls properly lubricated, allowing them to run smoothly.
Oil change intervals will vary depending on what your manufacturer’s manual says. AAA suggests getting an oil change every 5,000-7,500 miles for most engines.
“I go by the every 6,000 miles or 6 months rule for oil changes,” one commenter shared.
The “every 3,000 miles or every three months” rule is outdated, Consumer Reports shares. With the advancements in both engines and oil, every 3,000 miles is overdoing it and tossing away money. Some synthetic oils claim to last up to 10,000 miles, but as mentioned, it’s best to follow what the owner’s manual recommends.
“10,000 miles oil change is crazy and people wonder why so many engines fail early,” one commenter expressed.
Rotating Your Tires
The third thing Demmer recommends knowing is the tire rotation schedule. Tire rotation means periodically changing the position of each of the tires on your vehicle, Bridgestone Tire reports. Rotating your tires extends the tire life and avoids uneven wear patterns. Even tread helps create traction and consistent handling on all four tires.
If you don’t rotate and you have all-wheel drive, you can cause some serious powertrain issues due to the tread depth differences, one expert shared on Reddit.
Bridgestone Tire suggests following the manufacturer’s tire rotation schedule or rotating every 5,000 miles. This can easily be paired up with oil changes to ensure both car maintenance tasks get completed.
Cabin Air Filters
The last thing Demmer suggested was knowing how often to change the cabin air filter. According to Jiffy Lube, it is recommended to change out the cabin filter every 15,000-30,000 miles. It can be done every other oil change or once a year to ensure clean air is being pumped into your car.
Additionally, users on Reddit’s r/lifeprotips sub suggest changing the cabin air filter yourself, claiming dealerships and auto shops will typically overcharge for a cabin filter replacement. Motor1 previously covered a viral video about how a woman got out of being upsold on an air filter when she got her oil changed. Many commenters agreed that the part could be easily acquired for a low price on Amazon and installed by yourself.
“The dealership tried to get me to have them change my filters – for $200. Bought both for $40 and had both done in less than 10 minutes,” one Reddit user shared.
Considering this is a simple fix, it might be worthwhile to watch a YouTube video and save yourself some money.
Does Anyone Actually Bother to Read the Owner’s Manual, Though?
Giving a glance through the owner’s manual is definitely a good habit to pick up. However, do people actually read it through?
“Giving the owner’s manual [a] once over costs you nothing and at least runs your eyes over the info one time,” one Reddit commenter advised.
Still, according to a study by Bristol Steel Motors, approximately 60% of motorists didn’t read their owner’s manual before driving their car for the first time, Express Yuma reports.
What Did Viewers Want Added to the List?
Comments on Demmer’s TikTok were mixed, as some mocked the practical suggestion while others chimed in with more things to add.
“Put a ceramic coat on there so it keeps looking good,” one shared
“Absolutely baby it for the first 600 miles until the engine is broken in,” another suggested
“I always break-in the engine, for the first 1k miles, I go easy on every working part, and don’t drive over 55-60mph,” a third recommended.
Motor1 has contacted Demmer via TikTok direct message. This story will be updated should he respond.
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