Everyone wants their car to work as well as possible, and if you are trying to make sure that yours is, there are a lot of things you might want to look into here. The truth is that all you really need to do here is to ensure that you are looking after your car in a few major ways. As long as you do these, you’ll get more out of your car, a longer life for it, and you will be safer on the roads as well.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most important ways to keep your car properly working. As long as you have thought about the following, you should find that your vehicle is a lot more likely to last for a long time, and to work as best as you would hope for the duration of that period.
Know How To Check Your Oil
Checking the oil is one of those very simple acts that can save you a lot of time, hassle and money. An engine needs oil in order to work properly, and you can really consider it as the blood of the car. It’s important that you understand how to check your oil, how to change it and top it up, and what it is that it actually does.
After a while of being used, any oil is going to become dirty, and won’t be as able to lubricate the engine as well as when it was new and original. This is the main reason it needs to be checked regularly. If it is not topped up, your engine will have to work a lot harder, and it may start overheating and could actually have damage caused to it.
If you can’t remember the last time you checked your oil, do it as soon as possible. It’s a very simple process. Identify and locate the dipstick and pull it up to see where the oil level is. Wipe and replace, and pull it up again. If it is below the lowest marker line, then add some more, being careful not to overfill. It’s generally best to fill a little and then check before adding a little more in.
As well as occasionally topping up the oil, from time to time you should have the oil changed completely. This is best done by a professional mechanic, and it should be done roughly every 5,000 miles.
Maintain The Brakes
Clearly, the brakes are one of the most important parts of the car when it comes to being safe in your vehicle, so you need to make sure that you are maintaining them as best as you can. How can you do this, and what should you actually make sure you are doing for your brakes? Mostly, this is about paying attention to how the brakes are functioning as you drive, and whether they are responding to your foot well enough. If it seems as though they are squishy, or they are squeaking, then it’s time to think about replacing them.
The safest way to make sure your brakes are working properly is to seek the help of a professional, who can carry out a full brake inspection for you. Click here to find out the details about such a service, and make sure to book in as soon as possible if you want to ensure your brakes are truly in full working order.
As long as you keep on top of the brakes, you are going to be a lot safer, and your car will operate more effectively.
Pay Attention To The Tires
Along with the brakes, the tires are one of the most important parts of the car, and a part that requires more or less constant attention. They are the only part of the car that ever touches the ground, after all, and as such you need to make sure that you are doing all you can to keep them well looked after at all times. This is a vital safety concern, as well as a major way of keeping the car working properly.
The main thing is to make sure that you keep an eye on the tire pressure, and top them up when they get too low. Your car’s manual will have specific information on what psi or bar the tires need to be inflated to, but if you can’t find that information at least make sure you never let them get below 30 or so psi. That way, you are at least doing the bare minimum for your own safety.
Looking after the tires will also help to keep them for longer, which is good for the whole vehicle and ensures longevity for the car, while also saving you money on replacements.
Check The Lights
The lights are of course very important too, allowing you to drive in dark conditions and also to indicate to other road users where you are intending to move. You should therefore be sure to check your lights on a regular basis, just to be safe. You can do this with someone else’s help, or simply by turning them on and stepping out to take a look. As for the brake light, you can check that by reversing near a reflective surface and then pressing the brake, or again with someone else’s help.
Be sure to replace lights the moment they stop working, for your safety and everyone else’s.
Keep The Coolant Topped Up
Coolant is incredibly important, and yet a lot of people fail to look after it at all. If your car is out of coolant, it is going to be a lot more liable to overheating, which can cause damage to the internal parts and also potentially lead to a fire, which might even be fatal. So as you can see, you rely heavily on your coolant being topped up at all times. It’s vital that you are doing all you can to keep on top of this.
