Car Maintenance: 5 Point Check List

Keeping a close eye on the maintenance of your car is essential for ensuring it stays on the road for as long as possible. Making sure your car is properly looked after will not only reduce the risk of breakdowns, it will also help prevent unnecessary garage bills. Car maintenance does not have to be difficult, simply keeping your eye on certain things and acting accordingly should be enough. This article highlights five easy things you can do to prolong the life of your vehicle.

1. Tyres

Keeping your eye on the condition of your tyres is crucial for both your safety and your future bank balance. Letting the air pressure to fall too low will cause the tyres to wear out quite quickly. Having low tread can become extremely dangerous and will certainly award you with a few penalty points on your licence should you get pulled over by the police. I'd recommend having a look every week or so to make sure you don't run into unforeseen problems.

2. Oil and Fluid Levels

Engine's rely on lubrication and this is where the engine oil comes into play. For all the parts to move around and function properly, a sufficient amount of oil must be in the engine at all times. To check the oil, regularly look at the dip stick to ensure the amount of oil never falls below the minimum level. Also, carry out regular checks for pools of oil and fluid on the road under the car. The same rules apply for other fluids such as radiator fluid. Check the levels regularly and always be on the look-out for potential leakages.

3. Brakes

Brakes are a little harder to check yourself, but well worth considering as they probably save your life on a daily basis! If you're not a qualified mechanic (most of us!), you need to focus on trying to spot potential braking issues. If your brakes feel 'fluffy' or give out a metal on metal grinding sound...go have them looked at as soon as possible. Most garages will provide a brake checking service, and some will even do this free of charge.

4. MOT's

This sounds really simple and obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people miss their MOT expiry date. Not only is this dangerous, it will also invalidate your insurance policy. MOT's are the national, legal check carried out to certify the road worthyness of the car, and provide proof to the authorities that your car is fit for use on the road. However, within the year, items on the list may fall below standard and it is your responsibility to ensure this doesn't happen.

5. Servicing

Regularly servicing your vehicle will keep it on the road longer, and hopefully keep you and your wallet out of the garage for longer. Giving all aspects of your vehicle a good old clean and tidy at the appropriate intervals should mean the parts last a lot longer than if they were simply left to get on with it. Remember though that all cars have their own servicing schedules so when you acquire a new car, ensure that you are update on the servicing requirements.


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For more information on car maintenance, please visit Ian Allan Ford