Maintaining your car is important. By preserving and looking after your car, it can last a long time, allowing you to save money before you invest in an upgrade. What’s more, basic maintenance can save you from paying for costly repairs while you own the car. Below, we explore five simple ways you can maintain your vehicle.
Tyre pressure
It’s essential that you have tyres that are up to the job. If your tyres are deteriorating, you could become less safe while driving and your car could be less fuel efficient. To start with, you should frequently check your air pressure to ensure that your tyres are filled up appropriately. Next, you should check your tyre tread: by carrying out the penny test, you can check to see whether your tyres have enough grip. If you notice an issue during these tests, or if you suspect there’s a puncture, you should buy Michelin tyres to secure a quality, long-lasting replacement.
Oil levels
You should also frequently check your oil levels. If they dip below the required amount, your engine can deteriorate quickly and suffer from wear and tear. Ideally, you should check your oil once a month by locating and pulling up the dipstick. This is especially important as your car gets older and wracks up more mileage. At the same time, it’s worth checking your engine coolant levels frequently too.
Lights
Checking your lights is essential too. If your lights aren’t functioning, you’ll be putting yourself and other road users in danger. Indeed, the Highway Code states that “all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise” while headlights should also be used at night or in moments of low visibility. Just start your car and step out to check your lights consistently.
Brakes
You should test your brakes frequently too. If they begin to wear out, your car will become less responsive when you try and stop it, leading to dangerous situations. You can check your brakes by listening out for squealing noises, checking for a vibrating brake pedal or feeling how responsive your car is when you press down to brake.
Windscreen care
Finally, it’s well worth maintaining your windscreen too. You should frequently check your wipers to see if they’re functional – you don’t want to be caught out in torrential rain. Plus, you should check to see if you have your windscreen washer topped up.
Maintaining your car can seem like a lot of hassle, but it will save you time and money in the long run. And by following the guide above, you should be all set to preserve your vehicle into the future.
