Owning a car requires a little bit more than jumping into the driver’s seat, firing up the engine, and heading down the road. Do these 3 simple car checks every month to keep your motor running:
- Oil check
- Tyre pressure
- Screen wash
Read on to find out how to run these checks on your vehicle.
Oil check
Checking the oil level in your engine every month will make sure everything runs smoothly. Oil protects the working parts of your engine by keeping them well-lubricated.
Steps to check the oil level in your car:
- Allow the engine to stand for 5 minutes so the oil can settle.
- Locate and pull out the dipstick.
- Wipe it clean and put it back.
- Pull out the dipstick again to check the level.
- If it’s low, top up your engine oil!
For more information about what oil does for your engine, and detailed instruction about how to check the oil level, read this blog post. You might also be interested to learn why you should treat your car to an oil change periodically.
Tyre pressure
The most common cause of a tyre blowout is the car running with a tyre pressure below the vehicle specifications. The tyre gets hot under the strain and this is what causes it to blow.
Don’t let this happen to you! Check your tyres are at the correct pressure before you make a long journey. Even better, check your car tyres regularly so you know you’re confident that they’re properly inflated.
Correct tyre pressure also has an impact on how your car manoeuvres and handles, and how well it brakes. Keep tyres properly-inflated for maximum driving enjoyment!
Your car will have different tyre pressure requirements for when it is fully loaded and for when it’s only carrying passengers. Check your manual for the exact tyre pressure.
Most petrol station have air for motorists to check and inflate their tyres. You might need some coins handy to make the air work.
How to check the pressure in your car tyres:
- Remove the dust cap on the car tyre valve.
- Push the air hose nozzles onto the valve firmly. You’ll hear a small amount of air but this will stop once the nozzle is seated correctly.
- There is a gauge on the hose that will tell you the pressure of the tyre in PSI or BAR. Make sure you’re using the right reading!
- Increase or decrease the tyre pressure accordingly following the instructions on the machine.
And that’s it. You’ve checked your tyre pressure and reinflated if you need to. Great work!
Read more about maintaining the tyres on your car on our car tyre maintenance article.
Screen wash
Screen wash isn’t just essential in the winter. Dust, pollen, unlucky bugs, and other debris will inevitably end up on your windscreen. Keeping your screen wash topped up is crucial for safety and proper visibility when driving.
Always use a screen wash that is specially formulated for cars. Do not use detergent. Screen wash has antibacterial elements to stop mould growing in the pipes and getting clogged up.
Screen wash also has stronger cleaning agents than detergent that will help remove sticky tar deposits and other road debris.
Screen wash comes in different types: ready mixed, concentrate, or in sachets to mix with plain water. Make sure you check which type you have before putting it in your screen wash reservoir.
How to top up your screen wash:
- Open the bonnet of your vehicle.
- Find the screen wash cap. It might be yellow, or have a screen icon on it.
- Pour in the screen wash or add the sachet and top up with plain water. 1 sachet is enough in the summer, 2 sachets in the winter to prevent freezing.
- Replace the cap.
And you’re all done, with a sparkling clean windscreen.
Simple car checks
If you don’t feel confident doing these 3 simple car checks yourself then we can show you how, or do them for you. We charge a small fee to cover the time it takes for our motor engineers to run the 3 simple car maintenance checks. It’s a snip at £20 + VAT.
Call us on 0116 3190 118 or 07850 881 911 to find our more. Or pop into our garage on Shaftesbury Road, Leicester.
