Do you have a car and don’t know how menage basics in maintenance. Read this short tips.
Some basic car maintenance:
- All the time keep upto date with your servicing, this keeps your engine in top shape.
- Wash him once a week to keep corroding dirt off the paint, a little wax at least once a month also helps.
- Any minor concerns? Get them checked out before they become big problems.
Oil
Whole car maintenance is easiest on level ground. This is very important for fluids like oil to be the best readings. Once on level ground, switch the engine off and wait about 5 minutes to let the oil fall to the sump. Pull the dipstick out, wipe clean with a cloth and pop it back in.
Take it back out again after some seconds and you should be able to see where the oil scale is. A dipstick will have a minimum and maximum level. You want that your oil be upto the full mark. It doesnt matter if its a little less though.
After that lets check the condition of the oil. If its slightly brown thats fine. Dark brown show you that coming up to need a change. If its black its definitely time to get it changed. Unfortunately if its coffee coloured, this spells trouble. Often it means a gasket is leaking water into the oil. So get it to a garage right away to have it checked out.
Than we have looked at the oil level and condition, you may need to top it up. Make sure you have the accurate oil for your car. Most motor factors will be able to advise what type of oil your car requires. To fill up simply remove the oil filler cap on top of the engine, these are often clearly marked. Top your oil a bit at a time giving it chance to get to the bottom of the sump, and then check with the dipstick. Repeat this until you are at the full mark. Once finished simply make sure you pop the filler cap back on and also make sure your dipstick is secure.
Water Level
If your car have low level of water this can cause it to overheat so always check this especially before long journeys. You have a small tank somewhere at the top of the engine bay, normally with a yellow filler cap. On the side of the tank should be two marks, between these is where we want our water level. If its a little low top it up. If its empty get it topped up right away. If your tank did require topping up check it for the next few days. It will mean you have a leak in the system somewhere if it keeps losing water.
You need to open the water filler cap when the car is cooled as it can have a lot of pressure behind it and will also be very very hot.
Tyres
You should buy a tyre pressure gauge. These are too cheap and are very handy. That tool measure your pressure and will save you fuel money and tyre wear. You have to check your pressure once a week. Often your pressure guide is stamped in the door of the drivers side. If its not there then there is many sources online to get the right pressure. If it is needing to be pumped up often then this indicates a puncture and will need repairing or replacing.
There is also a juristic limit on the amount of grip your tyres should have. For each tyre that is illegal you get a fine and 3 points on your liscence so have them checked so that you know where you stand.
Some more useful tips on wheel condition are: any vibrations you feel at speed indicate that your wheels need balancing. If car pulls to one side then your wheel alignment may be out. Get this sorted out as this will wear your tyres down unevenly and quickly. It is also bad for suspension parts and can be dangerous.
Remember get the small stuffs sorted before they become large problems.
You should always adhere to this rule. If you ignore any knocking sounds or loose parts, you will be in for a bigger bill at the garage when it all finally breaks. Is cheaper to repair before they get much worse and cost you a lot of money.
