Basic car maintenance

Every car owner should know some basic car maintenance tips in order to keep their car in the best possible condition and to eliminate unnecessary and expensive trips to the garage for minor issues you could have prevented or fixed yourself. The most common things most car owners do themselves are to check the oil level and re-fill if necessary, keep the tyres inflated to the correct level, and to keep the windscreen washer topped up. But there are plenty of other things car owners could and should do. In addition to keeping the tyres at the correct level to decrease wear and to ensure optimal fuel efficiency, you should also make sure to rotate your tyres every 5,000 miles to even out wear. You should also try and clean break dust off at regular intervals as if you leave it too long the dust will be baked into your wheels. A damp sponge is the best way to clean your wheels. Inside the engine you should in addition to checking your oil level, check your various belts. Inside the engine there are various rubber belts visible and as these are made of rubber, they will perish over time. Get your timing belt and accessory drive belt checked every 25,000 miles and replaced every 50,000 miles. You should also check the level of coolant to make sure there’s no danger of your engine overheating. You should also be able to replace any bulbs that may have blown. Your handbook will tell you what kind of replacement you need or any auto parts shop will help you out. They can probably also help replacing it if you find it too difficult. They also sell replacement windscreen wipers. Make sure you replace these regularly too as you want to prevent scratching on your windscreen. An auto part store will also sell you good quality car shampoo and wax, both needed to keep the car’s bodywork in good condition. Get rid of dirt such as bird poop immediately as if left it might leave a dull mark. Regardless of whether you’re driving a spanking new Jaguar in London or a used Skoda Fabia, Worthing, some basic home maintenance will give your car a longer life and also probably reduce the overall cost of servicing because a well-maintained car means there should be less for the garage to repair or change.