Car maintenance 101  - Maintaining Your Vehicle

Car maintenance can often fall to the bottom of our to-do lists. While it may not be everyone’s favourite job, there are lots of small things you can do to keep your car in good shape.

Why is car maintenance important?

Whether you are planning on selling your car or you have just bought it, car maintenance is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to ensure that you are driving in a safe vehicle, vital for both your own safety and for others on the road. This also saves you money in the long run, as issues that are overlooked can be more costly when not tended to in good time. Secondly, if you do ever plan on selling your car, you will get more for it if it has been well looked after.

Fortunately, maintaining your car yourself does not mean you need to qualify as a mechanic. Having a selection of tools in your milwaukee packout to hand is all you need.

Checking oil levels

Engine oil works as a lubricant to manage your engine temperature and upkeep your car’s fuel efficiency. Therefore, it is important that you check your oil levels regularly in order to make sure your car runs smoothly.  It is recommended to check these fortnightly, consider adding an automated calendar reminder if you are likely to forget.

Before checking your oil levels, you need to make sure that your engine is cold and that you are not parked on a slope. First, you will need to open the bonnet and locate the dipstick. Then pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean so you can see the minimum and maximum markers. Push the dipstick back in and then remove it and check where the oil has reached, if it is less than halfway between the markers, this is an indication that it needs topping up.

Checking tyres

Checking your car tyres once a week is good practice for making sure your car is both safe and efficient. You can easily check your tyre tread depth using a 20p coin. Make sure that your tyres are cold before doing this. If your tyre pressure is low, you can usually top them up at petrol stations, or you can buy a tyre inflator kit to keep in your car.

As well as checking the pressure, you should also regularly look for any nails or punctures.

Cleaning

While it may seem less important than other areas of car maintenance, keeping your car clean is very important. Allowing a build-up of dirt can impact the protective layer on your car, which as a result makes it easier for your car to begin rusting.

Implementing regular washing into your car maintenance schedule is an effective way to prevent rust and keep your car looking brand new.