Imagine a life without your daily driver.
Everything from doing the shopping to getting your kids to and from school would be a nightmare. Cars just make life easier. Period.
It’s no wonder that over 91% of households own one! It’s also why it’s so stressful and frustrating when they break down.
Thankfully, you can avoid that eventuality for longer with some basic car maintenance tips up your sleeve. Sound good? Read on for 4 essential tips to keep your daily driver on the road.
1. Check the Oil
Engine oil is what keeps everything lubed up and good to go.
Let the level drop too low and you can do serious damage to the vehicle.
Make sure the engine’s cool when you check it. Then, with the engine off, pop the hood and find the dipstick. Pull it out, wipe it with a clean rag, then put it back in and pull it back out again!
Look at its tip to see where the oil sits between ‘full/max’ and ‘low/min’. If it’s at or below the minimum point, then top it up with the recommended oil.
2. Check the Tires
It goes without saying how important your tires are to a functioning vehicle!
Checking the tire pressure should help you avoid anything too calamitous from occurring. Try hard to keep the PSI at the recommended level.
Both too much and too little air can spell trouble. Check every couple of months to see if they’re holding air and only top up what you need.
A sticker on the driver’s side door pillar should reveal the correct PSI. Is it getting hard to read the print? You could use a logo express app to create a new one.
3. Check the Coolant
The coolant regulates engine temperature and stops it overheating.
If the level drops too low, then you’re in for trouble.
With the engine cold (and turned off), find the coolant reservoir under the hood. It’ll probably be made from milky-white plastic, have green fluid inside, and min/max lines on the outside.
Check that the level falls between those lines. Too low? Top the reservoir up with antifreeze.
Never refill via the radiator cap. It’s a one-way ticket to sending scalding water over your hands and into the engine!
4. Drive Carefully
This ‘maintenance tip’ is the most important of the lot!
Driving sensibly is one of the best ways to preserve the life of your vehicle.
Brake early and gently. Go easy around the corners. Accelerate slowly. Stick to the freeways. Stick it in neutral when you’re at the lights. And so on.
Your car (and your bank balance) will thank you for it in the long run.
Remember These Car Maintenance Tips
Cars are an essential part of life for most families. Which is why it’s so debilitating when they break down.
Thankfully, following certain rules and basic car maintenance tips should keep yours running trouble-free for longer.
Read more articles like this by browsing the ‘DIY Auto Repair’ section of the website.