Car Maintenance

When was the last time you spent 20-30 minutes going round your car checking that everything is in working order? Not lately? Well now there's really no excuse with our handy check list.

Tyre Pressure Check

Incorrect pressure in your tyres can have a multitude of effects, from decreased fuel efficiency to increasing stopping distances.

You can buy tyre pressure gauges for very little money and for such a minimal outlay, is it worth risking your family's life? Here are the steps to check your tyre pressure:

. Check your owners manual for the correct tyre pressure(usually Psi)
. Always check the pressure when the tyres are cold. When you drive friction between your tyres and the road surface heats them up consequently giving you a false pressure reading.
. Most petrol stations give you the facility to top up the pressure

Wiper Blades

It is advised that you regularly check your wiper blades as they can badly scratch your windscreen if they corrode too far.

To check them simply lift them away from the glass and check for cracks and splits in the rubber, if necessary go to your nearest car shop and buy some replacements.

Oil/Coolant/Washer Levels

These levels are extremely simple to check and can greatly decrease your cars lifespan if ignored. They are all located under the bonnet so while you're there you might as well do them all.
NB. Ensure that when you prop up the bonnet it is totally secure, a bonnet falling on your head is nothing to laugh about.

Oil
. Open up your bonnet with a catch located inside the car (usually on the right hand side in drivers footwell).
. Locate the "Dip stick", usually a coloured rod and withdraw it.
. Wipe off any excess oil on the end and re-insert, this is to get a true reading
. Pull out the dipstick again and ensure that the oil level is between the markers located at the end of the dipstick.
. If there is not enough oil in there, check you users manual for oil type and go buy some as soon as possible.
. To put more oil in, you will usually have to unscrew a cap located on the engine itself. Ensure that you do this when the engine is cool to avoid being burnt.

Coolant
. This is usually a relatively small container not to be confused with the larger windscreen washer bottle. There are usually markers to indicate levels on the container itself.
. If you are having trouble seeing where the level is, push down on the side of the car to rock the suspension, you will usually see the water level move.
. If coolant is required, ensure that you do not remove the cap while the engine is hot as you could get burned buy the escaping steam.
. During the summer you can put plain water into the bottle but it is advisable that come winter time, you top it up to around 50:50 with antifreeze to stop your engine block freezing.

Windscreen Washer Fluid
. This is usually the biggest tank in your engine bay.
. We advise that you always use proper windscreen washing fluid when refilling the bottle.
. DO NOT use washing up liquid mixed with water as this can damage your paintwork
. Take off the cap and refill it as necessary.

And that's all there is to checking the oil, coolant and washer fluids.

Believe us, cheap car insurance for women will be the last thing on your mind if your cars engine has jsut exploded because there was no coolant or oil in it. We would advise that you perform these checks at least once a month.