Preventative Maintenance For Your Cars
Posted in: Driving Courses.
All cars, with only a few exceptions, require regular attention. The small things that you do on a regular basis can add years to the life of the car, save you money, and help to keep you (and others) safe on the road.
Scheduled Maintenance
Manufacturers recommend a service schedule for their cars. This usually includes checks that the owner could do themselves, but equally well, there’s many for which the amateur mechanic will lack the necessary tools and facilities. For classics and vintage cars such as the Borgward for example- see http://www.carsales.com.au/car/borgward/, the best option would be to see a company specializing in classic cars and vintage models such as this, they have the requisite skils and the necessary experience to keep your cars running in tip-top shape.
The first thing to do, therefore, is – note your service schedule, and stick to it, ensuring that your car is presented for service on or before the specified period since its last one. This is usually expressed as a limit time or mileage – 6 months, or 10,000 miles, for instance. Whichever occurs first, book your service then.
Weekly or Monthly Checks
As well as regular servicing, there are other checks that the motorist can carry out monthly, or more frequently.
Check the condition and cleanliness of your wiper blades, as well as ensuring the windscreen washer fluid is topped up with the correct mixture.
Check the oil, both its level and condition. The oil is the lifeblood of the engine, its bloodstream, and whilst it will be changed regularly at your service visits, you should monitor it regularly.
Look at your tyres, inspecting them for any signs of deflation, premature wear, bald spots, as well as for any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Check all external lights regularly – although this can sometimes be a two-person job, you can do a rudimentary check by driving up to a shop window and observing their reflection as you operate them.
Watch the Signs
Many modern cars are equipped with electronic control systems, and have warning lights to advise of fault conditions. Don’t ignore these warning lights, and don’t carry on, hoping they’ll go away.
Try to be aware of how your car sounds and feels when driving. If you are, you’ll be better aware of any changes to its handling and performance, and changes in these aspects may be a sign of a developing fault.
Conclusion
Don’t blindly jump in and out of your car whenever you use it. Have a look around while it’s stationary on your driveway or in its parking space, and note anything that looks out of place. Trust your eyes, and your instincts. If something looks or sounds wrong, it probably is. Don’t wait for the scheduled maintenance – keep an eye on things yourself and take action as deem appropriate.
Tags: car maintenance, Check the oil, electronic control systems, Maintenance For Your Cars, save you money, service schedule, warning lights, washer fluid