Every car owner would know that their car is a major investment and should be taken care of accordingly, and that an investment should be worth a few minutes of their time to make sure that it is running properly and in top condition.
Many minor car problems occur when the car owner doesn’t maintain their cars properly, and it can sum up to spending more money and time on the car than they would have originally planned.
This post has been put together to help inexperienced car owners with basic maintenance tips that can be carried out at their homes.
Tyres
The first and probably the most important thing to focus on is the car tyre. Having the tyres properly inflated improves fuel efficiency and allows all four tyres to wear out evenly.
If you are unsure what to do, or aren’t aware of your tyre specifications, you can check your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual for the correct pressure to inflate them to.
You should also be checking for signs of worn-out treads as this can be a big safety hazard, especially when driving on snow, ice and wet roads.
You should also remember to check your tyre pressure often and can even consider investing in a small gauge to store in your glove compartment.
Fluids
You ought to be sure that your car’s essential fluids are at their optimum levels, so that the car works as efficiently as designed for.
Also, be sure to change the engine oil and filters at regular intervals to prevent potentially harmful pieces of dust, dirt or debris getting into your car’s engine.
You should not only be checking the fluid levels regularly but also especially before you embark on any long journeys.
Servicing
Your car should come with a service schedule that you must always adhere to. Don’t scrimp on services for your car, it is a false economy.
Some car owners who don’t keep their services up-to-date tend to face more substantial repair bills later. It might be a clever idea to establish and maintain effective communication with your mechanic.
Getting to know the people working in the field gives you new access to them, which in turn makes it easier for you to ask questions and solve them to ease your mind.
Keep a Clean Car
Finally, this goes without saying, but you should always keep a clean car. A regular cleaning routine will keep your car looking good inside and out, be more pleasant for you to drive, and help you retain its value for longer.
More importantly, if you clean your car regularly, you’ll remove dust, grit and dirt that has the potential to cause damage to or corrode your car.
When cleaning, you should also take a few minutes to check if the light, indicators and windscreen wipers are all working well.