Car maintenance can be confusing for many people. Becuase of this, they may miss the following important steps:
1. Not changing your oil.
An oil change is vital to the engine health of your vehicle. Oil lubricates the moving parts inside your engine, stopping them from creating friction and excess heat. This excess heat can damage engine components over time as well as increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption. If you do not get your oil changed, you risk causing expensive engine damage.
2. Neglecting your tyres.
Having correctly inflated tyres (including your spare tyre) is very important. Tyres with incorrect air pressure will wear out more quickly, affect your car’s performance and increase fuel consumption. Regular checking of your tyres will improve their lifespan and reduce the risk of a puncture or blowout. Consult your manual for tyre inflation recommendations.
Read more on how to extend the life of your tyres.
3. Not changing your fluids.
Your car uses several different fluids to improve the performance of its many parts. These include:
- Brake fluid – improves the performance of your braking system, allowing you to stop sooner.
- Transmission fluid – lubricates your transmission system and acts as a coolant.
- Power steering fluid – improves your control over the car’s steering system.
- Radiator fluid (coolant) – coolant / anti freeze prevents overheating and corrosion in the radiator and engine.
- Wiper fluid – increases the effectiveness of your windscreen wipers which keeps your windscreen cleaner.
4. Not cleaning your car.
If you do not clean your car, dirt and salt buildups will occur. This can damage your car’s paint job and cause rust to start appearing on your vehicle. If rust forms on structural points of your vehicle, you may not pass your next Warrant of Fitness and your vehicle will be devalued when you go to sell it.
5. Not getting your car regularly serviced.
Taking your car to a mechanic for a routine service will significantly reduce the risk of problems going undetected. If a problem goes undetected, it may cause expensive damage to your vehicle over time.
A routine vehicle service will also keep your vehicle running smoothly with a replacement of your oil filter, engine oil and other fluids and filters (the fluids and filters replaced depend on what type of service you receive).
Servicing your vehicle also gives you the opportunity to ask your mechanic any questions you have relating to your vehicle.
6. Expecting a problem to “fix itself”.
Whether it’s a dashboard warning light or a weird noise coming from your engine, it is always best to do some research and attempt to diagnose the problem quickly. Ignoring a vehicle-related problem will not make it go away. Instead, it could cause more damage, especially if the problem is engine-related.
If you are unable to diagnose a problem in your vehicle, consult a mechanic or car expert for advice. Whether it is a small or huge problem, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
7. Driving aggressively or unsafely.
The way you drive can affect the health of your car. Drive responsibly to increase your vehicle’s lifespan and your safety.
Protect your tyres by:
- Taking corners slowly.
- Avoiding sudden starts and stops.
- Avoid your tyres hitting the kerb when parking
- Driving slowly over speed bumps, potholes and other obstacles.
Increase your fuel efficiency by:
- Avoiding high engines revs (using overdrive or 5th gear where ever possible).
- Avoiding excessive acceleration – don’t speed up if you know you have to stop soon.
- Avoiding excessive idling. Your car uses a lot of fuel when it is on but not moving.
Improve overall vehicle safety by:
- Driving at a safe speed.
- Not taking risks.
- Looking out for other drivers around you.
- Keeping a couple of power poles distance behind the car in front of you, when on the open road.