Many people use their car every single day and rely on it heavily for important parts of their life, but many also overlook basic maintenance and care. Cars are complex machines that need to be maintained and looked after, which can help to prevent costly issues from arising and ensure that the car is operating efficiently at all times. So, what maintenance checks should motorists be performing?
Tyres
Tyres are one of the most important features of the car to look after as they can impact performance, safety and efficiency. You should be checking the tyre pressure on a regular basis and keep it topped up to the recommended level while also checking the tyre tread depth with a 20p coin. If the depth is less than the 1.6mm legal minimum, you could face a fine of £2,500 per tyre as well as endangering yourself and other road users. Changing tyres is something that is easy enough to do yourself with an impact wrench and a car jack.
Oil & Coolant Levels
It is good practice to check the engine and coolant levels (when the engine is cool) once a month. Low levels of either of these vital fluids could lead to engine issues, which could end up costing you a fortune. You can top up the fluids quickly and easily, so this is a simple yet important maintenance task.
Air Filter
The air filter is important for making sure that air flows properly into the engine and removes debris and particulate. The filter can become clogged and less efficient over time, so you should check the filter on a regular basis and change it when required (you can find out how to do this in the owner’s guide). This can also help to improve fuel efficiency and prolong the life of the engine.
Lights
You also need to check that all of your lights are working and it is a good idea to do this once a month. Knowing that your headlights, turn signals, parking and brake lights are all working will help to give you confidence on the roads and could also help to prevent an accident from happening.
Transmission Fluid
Transmission fluid is another vital fluid that is used to lubricate the moving parts of your transmission system. Transmission damage and replacement can both be hugely expensive, so simply checking and topping up transmission fluid is an important maintenance task to do on a regular basis.
These are a few of the main maintenance tasks that motorists should be doing on a regular basis. Performing basic maintenance will help to keep the car in good condition, prolong its life and should help to prevent costly repairs. You do not need to be an expert to perform these tasks and they are all quick and easy to do.
