How to do the three simple car maintenance jobs that could save you HUNDREDS in garage bills
Learning these basic maintenance tasks will significantly reduce your car's service bill when it comes time for your next major mechanics check.
NOBODY likes taking their car in for a service, only to be slapped with a large bill for a culmination of relatively small maintenance repairs.
There are a host of basic maintenance tasks that are actually very simple for you to perform yourself, potentially saving you hundreds when it comes time for a service.
We have put together a set of instructions for the three most common maintenance tasks, which should help you look after your vehicle, slice your bills and leave the motor technicians with just the major repairs to look after.
Read on to see how you can become a motoring DIY expert.
Keep it slippery with an oil change
Oil is what keeps your car's engine lubricated and running smoothly.
Without it, the engine will seize up and you will have a major repair bill on your hands, so it is important to always ensure your car is topped up to the sufficient level.
Before you start an oil change, warm up your engine for a few minutes to clear out and gunk - no longer or you risk burning yourself on a hot engine block.
- Find your drain plug - This is the large bolt or nut at the bottom of the engine. You may need to crawl under your car to reach it. Place a large container underneath the bolt and unscrew it. The oil should start flowing quickly into the pan.
- Empty the oil filter - On the top of your engine where you top up the oil, remove the cap, then unscrew your oil filter, twisting it counter-clockwise. Empty the oil from the filter into the drain pan and wrap it in newspaper, setting it to one side.
- Add new oil filter - If you are replacing your oil filter, screw the new one in where the old one was, gently turning by hand until firm. If you are using the same filter, make sure it is clean enough to be replaced.
- Replace drain plug - Once all oil has drain from underneath your car, wipe around the hole with a rag, and replace the bolt, tightening until firm.
- Add new oil - Pour approximately one litre of oil into the oil filler hold on top of the engine. Replace the cap and run your engine for one minute. Check for any leaks around the drain plug and filter.
- Check oil level - Turn off your engine, leaving it to cool for around 10 minutes. Remove the oil dipstick (the long pin sticking out near the oil filler hole), check the oil level. Continue to top up oil and check dipstick until it reaches the "full" level.
- Test drive - Take your car for a quick spin, then let the engine settle for 10 minutes. Check your oil level again. If it's full, you've completed your oil change. If not, continue to slowly top up until the dipstick reads "full".
You should change your vehicle's oil every 3,000 miles, or approximately every six months.
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Cool cars are happy cars
Water and coolant will keep your engine from overheating.
Coolant also contains anti-freeze to stop fluids from turning to ice in the colder months, making it vitally important for the health of your car.
WARNING: Never attempt to open your cooling system when the engine is hot - the pressurised system could erupt with steam. Always wait until the engine is cold.
- Find the cooling system - Your car's coolant tank should usually have a coloured cap, and will generally be white or transparent plastic to allow you to see fluid levels. Check your manufacturer's manual if you are unsure of where it is.
- Check coolant levels - The tank should have markings on the side to identify fluid levels. The coolant should be in the middle of the "minimum" and "maximum" markings.
- Checking for leaks - In most new cars. coolant systems are sealed and shouldn't need topping up. If you do notice the level has dropped, it may be a sign of a bigger problem, such as a leak in one of the hoses. If this occurs, you will need to see a mechanic.
- Topping up - If you need to drive your car before getting it to a garage, you will need to top up the coolant to stop the motor breaking down. Using a mix of 50:50, combine water and coolant in a container, and poor into the coolant reservoir until the level sits just below the "maximum" line. Replace the cap, and see a mechanic as soon as possible.
You should check your coolant levels weekly to make sure you are able to spot a leak as soon as it occurs.
Pumping it up
Making sure your tyres have enough air in them is important as increases the overall handling and safety of your car, as well as maintaining fuel efficiency.
Tyres with insufficient air can increase chance of a blowout, and potentially cause damage to wheels and axles, so its important to make sure the tyre pressure levels are sound.
- Find out the recommended pressures - If you aren't sure of the required pressure for your tyres, this information can usually be found in the manufacturer's handbook. Otherwise, they are often found inside the fuel cap, stamped on the driver's door, or imprinted on the rim of the tyre itself.
- Get a pressure gauge - You can pick up your own tyre pressure gauge from services or repair stores like Halfords from approximately £5. Otherwise, petrol stations occasionally have an electronic gauge attached to air pumps. Remove the valve cap on your tyre, and place the gauge over the valve to gain a reading.
- Fill to required level - If the tyre pressure reading is below the minimum PSI requirement, slowly add air using service station pump. If the tyres are over inflated, removing the valve cap and lightly pressing on the needle inside the valve can bleed a small amount of air.
- Keep it even - Make sure all four tyres have the same air pressure as advised in your handbook, and valve caps are always replaced to stop air from escaping.
Checking your tyre pressure is quick and easy, and should be done on a weekly basis.
