Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips

1. Check your oil

 Check your oil once a month. Wait until the car has been stationary for five minutes so the engine is cool, and open the bonnet for an accurate reading.

 Make sure the oil level is above the minimum mark and below the maximum mark. Top up accordingly – check your vehicle handbook for the correct oil.

 This video explains how to check your oil

2. Check the coolant

 Open the bonnet and ensure your water levels are topped up correctly.

3. Check brake fluid

 It’s important to see if your brake fluid is at the right level – but don’t change it yourself – leave this to the professionals.

 Don’t open the container or touch it yourself. If a bit of dirt gets in this can damage the whole system.

4. Get regular maintenance checks

 You wouldn’t get into an aeroplane which hasn’t been checked regularly by an engineer, so why not do the same for your car?

 Try and make sure your car gets checked regularly, and have an awareness of its condition.

5. Check your tyre pressure

 This will extend the life of your tyres and you’ll save up to ten per cent on fuel if your tyres are pumped up correctly.

 Under-inflated tyres on a bike will make it harder to pedal – cars are similar.

6. Check the tyre tread depth

 The minimum legal requirement is 1.6mm of tread depth which is a safety requirement too.

 Worn down tyres can skid – if this happens it’s likely your tyres are nearing the end of their life. Try and get them changed as soon as possible.

7. Don’t avoid a service

 It’s really important to have brake pads changed and your engine checked. Brake pads could get worn down and lose their stopping power, so it’s worth paying for a service. Air filters may need changing every 6,000 miles and any other problem will be identified.

 This will also improve the value of your car and keep it fuel efficient.

8. Don’t ignore dashboard signals

 Warning signals are your car’s way of telling you something is wrong, so don’t ignore them – you could run yourself into expensive damage.

9. Change windscreen wipers

 Your windscreen wipers should be changed once or twice a year, depending on their usage. You can change these yourself to avoid garage labour costs.

10. Look after the bodywork

 Try and get any bodywork damage fixed right away – otherwise rust can set in. Ring around to try and get the best deal.

 Always make sure the mechanic uses the correct paint colour before making any repairs or changes to the car’s paintwork.