Car Maintenance Tips You Should Know

07/03/2022

Basic car maintenance has significant benefits for your vehicle, your safety and your wallet. Not to mention the environment.

Here are 5 simple ways to look after your car.

1️⃣ Monitor your tyres

Most of us know tyres are dangerous when they’re old and worn out, but did you know they’re also dangerous with the wrong car tyre pressure? The correct tyre pressure allows your car to effectively accelerate, corner, brake and grip the road. It also enables your car to run more efficiently, so you’ll spend less on fuel. 

2️⃣ Check and change your engine oil

Back when you were a newbie driver, one or both of your parents probably droned on about the importance of checking your engine oil. You know what? They were right. Monitoring your oil is one of the simplest and most important ways to care for your car.

3️⃣ Change your windscreen wiper blades and fill wiper fluid

It comes as no surprise that one of the most vital aspects of safe driving is the ability to see. Worn out windscreen wiper blades are not effective at clearing the windscreen, which impedes visibility and puts you and other road users at risk. It’s equally important to keep your wiper fluid topped up.

4️⃣ Check your lights are in working order

Having a working set of lights is vital for safe driving and accident avoidance. There’s a fair chance you’ll notice if your headlights aren’t working when you drive at night, but when was the last time you checked each indicator and reversing light?

Most modern cars will alert you if a bulb needs replacing, but older cars might not. Either way, it’s a smart idea to conduct a monthly check of each of your car’s lights. 

5️⃣ Keep your car clean

At the risk of sounding like your grade nine PE teacher, please, keep it clean! Regularly washing your car is important not only to maintain its great looks, but also to improve the lifespan of the vehicle. The swift removal of dirt, impurities, squashed bugs and tree sap helps prevent paint corrosion, which otherwise leads to water ingress and eventually, rust. And since we live on the coast, this process happens even more quickly.