No matter what vehicle you drive at the moment, is it vital that you perform basic maintenance checks over the next couple of months. Depending on where you live in the world, the winter time could be very harsh, and so covering the basics should help to ensure your car stays in good working order. The last thing anyone wants is to be late for work in the morning because their engine won’t start. Likewise, trips to see your local mechanic can end up costing a pretty penny.
There are lots of different jobs you can perform at home to cut back on expenditure and limit the chances of a breakdown. All you need is some simple advice from the experts. Don’t worry too much if you’ve never lifted your bonnet before. Nothing is as complicated as you imagine. We would never recommend anyone without official qualifications or experience to mess around with key components. The only tasks we implore you to perform are very basic, but they could make a huge difference. Whether you’ve had your car for years or only just obtained with the help of a specialist like autohouse.co.uk, the same rules will apply.
Checking the oil
It is essential that you check your car’s oil supply at least once every two weeks during the winter months. All you have to do is unscrew the cap under your bonnet and take out the dipstick. If you notice the level of oil in your engine is very low, just top it up. You can buy all different kinds of oil products from your local petrol garage or car specialist. If you’re unsure about which is the right concoction for your vehicle, either look online or ask for assistance. To be fair though, you can’t go wrong.
Checking the brakes
It is important that everyone check their brakes regularly over the holiday season. The roads are going to be very slippery, and so you need to make sure your pads can handle the strain. If you believe they might be running a little thin, you should book an appointment at your local garage as soon as possible. The replacement of brake pads is not going to cost the earth, but it could save your life. A telltale sign of problems is hearing noise when you apply the brakes.
Checking water levels
Your engine needs water to stay in good working order. Sometimes that water will freeze during the cold months though, and so you need to check it on a daily basis. Luckily, your engine gets very hot when it’s switched on. That means any frozen water should defrost pretty quickly. If you believe your water tank is frozen, just leave the car running for half an hour before you set off in the morning. Of course, you should always use a mix of water and deicer to limit the chances of that happening.
With the advice you’ve just read, you should be in a much better position to keep your car performing as it should over the next few months. There are lots of other maintenance jobs you can perform without expert help though. All you have to do is search online.
