Chances are, you drive, but do you know much about car maintenance? According to a 2021 survey, one in four UK drivers don’t know how to open their car bonnet – and one in ten think cars can be filled up with both petrol and diesel.
We’ll leave that second shocking stat for another day, but car maintenance is easier than you think, and there are lots of check you can regularly perform yourself.
Why should you learn to perform car maintenance?
If you know how to perform work on your vehicle, you can diagnose problems, keep yourself and your passengers safe, and potentially save yourself plenty of money in the process.Sure, if your car breaks down and you can’t get to work without it, a bad credit loan could help to cover the cost of repairs if your credit score is lacking. However, you should always carefully consider your financial situation before applying for a loan. With a little maintenance foresight, you could avoid the need for one entirely.
Engine oil
Engine oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Without it, your components will seize up, grind against one another, and quickly destroy one another. As such, it’s key to check your engine oil level and colour via the dipstick under your bonnet every month or so. If it’s at too low a level, top it up. If it’snotably dark coloured, replace it.
Other car fluids
Oil and fuel aren’t the only two fluids getting to work in your car. There’s brake fluid, washer fluid, AdBlue, coolant, power steering fluid, radiator fluid, and transmission fluid, to name a few. If you don’t already, learn how to measure the levels of these, and compare them to the safe levels noted in your owner’s manual.
Tyre pressure
Your tyre pressure is very important, impacting fuel economy, steering and ride. Checking it before you head on long journeys is always a good idea, and it’s relatively easy to do. Just find out the correct PSI of your tyres in your owner’s manual, insert a pressure gauge into the valve stem, take a reading and compare. If you need to inflate or deflate them, use an air compressor or press the metal pin in the valve stem with a thin implement to let out air.
Air Filter
Easily accessible beneath the bonnet, the air filter keeps your engine running smooth and clean. Check it every few months or so. If you can smell fuel when starting the car – it may be clogged. If it’s particularly dirty, then it is always best to replace it.
Windscreen wiper blades
In a country with weather as finickity as ours, you need to be sure your windscreen wipers are up to the task. Requiring replacement every six months or so, your blades are really easy to swap out. Just lift them up, slip out the old blades (making note of how they attach) using the clip tab beneath the wiper, then carefully slide the new blades in. Easy!
These tasks are typically quite easy for drivers to complete, but if you don’t feel confident, don’t chance it: always go to a professional mechanic.
