Having your car serviced at the garage is important, but there is plenty that you can do yourself to keep your car maintained and ready for the road in between these trips, even if you’re not all that car savvy. Following a few basic car maintenance tips can help you to lower your service costs and keep your car roadworthy.
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Remember that your car’s manual can help you. It has all the details that you need to know how to maintain your car’s specific model (click here to learn the difference between two popular options) and tell you when certain tasks should be done. If you have maintenance tasks that you can’t tackle yourself, take your car to a good garage.
Check Your Windscreen Wash
Make sure that you keep your windscreen washer filled up, especially during the winter or before you set off on a long trip. A lot of people don’t know this, but in some places, it is actually illegal not to have fluid in your car’s screen washer bottle. This means it is always a good idea to keep your levels topped up.
Keep An Eye On Your Tyres
Check the pressure of your tires, and increase the pressure if it’s low. Tire pressure that is too low or too high can change the way that your car handles and the way that your tires wear as you use them. It can also shorten their lifespan. Your tires must be the correct type and size for the model of your car, with at least a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. If you’re not sure what your tire tread is at the moment, you can easily check it using a penny. Put the penny into several of the tread grooves. If you can always see the top of Lincoln’s head when you do this, then your tires are shallow and should be changed. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered, then your tires aren’t worn out yet.
Top Up Your Engine Oil
Make sure that your car’s oil level is kept between the minimum and maximum mark on the car’s dipstick. If you’re running low on oil, the car is more likely to break down, and you can cause damage to your engine. Too much oil can be just as damaging as too little, so don’t just tip the whole bottle in and assume that will solve the problem.
Keep Your Battery In Check
Your car’s battery should be changed every three years. A flat or faulty battery is one of the most common causes of breakdowns.
There are a few warning signs of battery failure that you can keep an eye out for. These signs might include the engine turning over more slowly more usual when you start the engine, the red battery light in the instrument display flickering, or the same light taking longer than usual to go out after you have started the ehgine.
Check If Your Car Is Due A Service
For most cars, you should have it serviced every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever is first. Check your car’s manual to see what is advised for your model, and keep an eye on your mileage.
Top Up Your Cooling System Liquid
Despite its name, coolant isn’t only for use in the winter. Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze and your car uses it all year round to keep your engine at the right temperature. Check your car’s manual to see how much coolant your car should have and make sure you keep it topped up.
Check Your Horn
Occasionally you should check that your horn is still working and that it is loud enough, by sounding the horn. It’s important to make sure that the horn is working and can be heard, in case you need it in an emergency to warn other drivers or pedestrians of any potential danger.
Take A Look At Your Exhaust
Start the engine and check the exhaust for leaks. Listen for any unusual noises or smoke coming from your exhaust. Make sure you do this somewhere well-ventilated.
Keep An Eye On Your Mirrors
Before any journey, you should check that your mirrors are clearly visible from the driver’s seat. If they’re not, adjust them and make sure they’re clean.
Clean Your Reversing Camera
If your car has a reversing camera, give the lens a wipe sometimes, to make sure you have a clear view.
Test Your Brakes
Before you drive, check your handbrake and footbrake to make sure they’re alright. Do these tests on your driveway or a quiet road without traffic, so you can test the brakes somewhere safe without endangering other drivers if there is a problem.
Try Out Your Lights And Indicators
It’s surprising how long it can take a driver to notice a light isn’t working on their car. Ask someone to stand outside of the car while you test all the lights and indicators, and make sure that they are all working. Don’t forget to check your fog lights too.
Test Your Windscreen Wipers
Check that your wipers are in good condition, with no tears or holes in them. Check your windscreen for any chips at the same time. If you notice any damage, have it repaired as soon as possible. Chips can soon turn into bigger cracks, which can mean you have to have the whole windscreen replaced, rather than just having a chip repaired.
Pay Attention To Your Dashboard Messages
A lot of people don’t know what the different warning lights on their dashboard mean. Learn what they mean and how you should react to them, so you know what to do if one comes on while you’re driving.
Watch Out For Rust
Keep an eye out for the first signs of rust, and deal with it quickly to stop any damage to the bodywork before it can set in. You might think rust is just a cosmetic problem, but it can actually cause a lot of damage if it reaches the car’s frame.
