Your car is a valuable commodity and it’s only natural that you want to look after it and keep it in good working order. You can either learn to maintain your car yourself or have a garage carry out the checks for you, either way making sure it is done correctly is vital.
Having the ability to repair and maintain a vehicle yourself can be a very rewarding experience! Not only can you take pride in the knowledge that you have done this job yourself, but you can also save money by not having to pay anyone else to do it for you. If you feel that you are in over your head at anytime you can always have your work inspected by a garage to make sure your work is safe to drive on the roads.
TyresIf your vehicles tyres are in poor condition or are incorrectly inflated, then it is not only dangerous for you to operate your vehicle, but it is also a criminal offence.
If you wish to obtain maximum efficiency from your tyres, always make sure that they have enough tread and are in good condition, and also maintain your tyres correct tyre pressure.
Checking Tyre Pressure- To obtain the correct pressure for your tyres it is recommended that you do this when they are still cold. Driving your vehicle even for a couple of minutes, allows your tyres chance to warm up. Then when you check your tyres you will find the reading to be unusually high.
- Tyre pressure is measured in PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) and differs depending on what type or model of car you are driving. To find the correct tyre pressure (PSI) for your tyres, refer to your owner’s manual. It's common for different amounts to apply to the front and rear tyres.
- By using a pump with a pressure gauge you can check to see if a tyres pressure is correct. If not then the pump can be used to apply or decrease pressure in order to get it right. If you do not own a pump, then you can locate one on almost any garage forecourt.
If you do not check and maintain your cars oil, then the result could be that your car could become seriously damaged (even beyond repair).
- Check your oil gauge at least once every fortnight, making sure that the car is on level ground and has cooled down first.
- The dipstick usually sticks out from one side of the engine. On more modern cars it may have a coloured handle: usually red, orange or yellow.
- Pull the dipstick out and wipe it clean with a rag. Return it to the full extent, pull it out again and check that the oil mark is between the upper and lower limits on the dipstick.