Five simple car maintenance tips

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 500
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 Time: 4:13 AM
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Once you've bought a new car, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking everything is in order. Once your vehicle tax has been bought and your car insurance has been paid for, it can seem that topping the car up with fuel is all you need to do between now and the next MOT or service appointment.

The reality is that there are a number of simple maintenance checks you should be doing along the way to ensure that your vehicle continues to run smoothly. Here are a few examples:

Oil levels

It's good to get in the habit of checking your car's oil every single week. Remove the dipstick and wipe away the oil before slotting it back in and removing it once more. This should give you an accurate reading, and you're looking for the oil level to sit between the two markers on the gauge. If you've fallen below the minimum level then you'll need to top up; check your vehicle's manual to see exactly how much oil you need to add.

Tyre pressure

Consult your car's manual to see the correct tyre pressure that your car requires -- this may differ between the front and rear tyres so check carefully. It's easy to adjust your tyre pressure using the automated systems you find at most garages, so be sure to check your levels on a regular basis. Also be aware that your tyre pressure will need to be different if you're transporting a significantly higher or lower number of passengers than normal; again, check the manual for the specifics.

Tyre tread

The tread on your tyres naturally wears away as the car is used more and more, so it's important to carry out regular checks to ensure that your tyres are still safe to use -- particularly as it's illegal to drive with overly worn tyres. Your tyre tread should be at least 1.6mm deep across the central three quarters of the tread width as well as the outer circumference; if you're unsure of how to check this properly then it's possible to buy a small tread depth gauge that will give you an accurate reading. If your tread depth is below the minimum level then have the tyre replaced immediately.

Lights

It's incredibly important to check that both your front and rear lights work properly on a regular basis - including brake lights, reverse lights and indicator lights. It can be hard to check rear lights in particular on your own, so enlist the help of a friend or family neighbour to ensure that everything is as it should be.

Liquid levels

There are several liquids that your car needs to run efficiently, and while we've already covered oil, there are plenty of others to keep in check. Screen wash, water and coolant levels should all be kept topped up. Power steering, clutch and brake fluid levels are also important but are best checked by a mechanic unless you know what you're doing.

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