With the cost of living rising every day, regular maintenance on your car should become a top priority. This will help to save some money and make your car run as smoothly as possible for much longer.You don’t have to be a mechanical expert. You simply need to know what to be aware of and what factors to keep your eye on.
What is car maintenance?
Car maintenance is a motor vehicle service, which is carried out over certain time intervals or certain kilometres travelled by one’s car. These service intervals are determined by car manufacturers’ service schedules or in some cases, the newer cars have service due dates on the cars electronic instrument panels. By maintaining your vehicle using these methods, you should keep your car running for much longer. 2
Why is car maintenance so important?
Keeping your car well maintained and in good condition will save you from unnecessary breakdowns. When you do regular maintenance on your vehicle, it will prevent minor problems from turning into bigger problems. 3By having a well-maintained vehicle, it will make travelling on the roads a lot safer. No one wants to breakdown at night on a quiet road. 3Having a well-maintained car will help your car’s fuel efficiency. You will always maintain good fuel economy with a good running vehicle, increasing your fuel per kilometre by 4% and sometimes by as much as 40%. A well-maintained car will help reduce the depreciation on your car’s value. 3
Tips to keep your car well maintained
- Follow Your Car’s Maintenance Schedule and Manual: To help prevent problems on your car’s cooling system, drivetrain, suspension and other components, always make use of good quality oils, fluids and parts. Always keep up with the car’s recommended maintenance plan. 1
- Battery: If your car perhaps struggles to start at first, it may be a sign that your car’s battery is dying. Have your battery checked if your car struggles to start. Today, car batteries are made to last longer – usually longer than three years. 1
- Windscreen Wipers: Windscreen wipers should be checked to see if the rubber is worn or cracked and should preferably be replaced every 12 months. If windscreen wipers are worn it will deteriorate your visibility quite drastically. 1
- Oils and Fluids: Regularly check the level on your car’s antifreeze, oil, gearbox oil, power steering fluid and brake fluid. If you are not entirely sure how to check these levels, get a mechanic to check for you. Learning how to check these levels by yourself will help you save costs. When replacing your car’s oil and fluids at the right intervals will improve it’s mileage and protect the engine. 1
- Tyres: Rotating your car’s tyres regularly will help wear your tyres evenly. Rotate them diagonally. Right front with left rear and left front with right rear. Always check your car’s tyre pressure. Doing all of this will most certainly benefit your car’s fuel efficiency. 1
- Problems: Don’t ignore problems that seem small. Warning lights, noises or even cosmetic nitty gritty’s. By ignoring these minor problems, they could eventually turn into very big problems. This will inevitably make your vehicle costs more in the end. 1
- TLC: Give your car some love. Wash, polish and vacuum it. This helps your car from aging quicker in the long run. 1
Following all this advice will help you maintain your car for longer and help you keep costs low.
Cars that are well kept and in good running order also keep their value for longer in the long run. Do you have car insurance? Perhaps why not consider potentially buying affordable car insurance as well as part of your car’s maintenance programme? Please seek financial advice from a qualified financial adviser before you buy car insurance.
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