How to take care of your vehicle: From car servicing to regular cleaning
Cleaning the house and taking care of property repairs is something most of us do without a second thought. However, the story is quite different when it comes to cleaning, maintaining and fixing our vehicles! Despite the fact that many people use their cars for everything from commuting to road tripping, 2020 research shows that 44% of UK drivers find their vehicle ‘confusing’ and don’t know basic car maintenance. What’s more, a 2018 study found that UK motorists wait on average 10 weeks before addressing vehicle problems, such as by booking in for car servicing or repairs.
If this sounds familiar, we’re here to help! Below, we’ve listed the most important cleaning and maintenance tasks to be aware of when it comes to taking care of your car.
Drive carefully and at the speed limit
We can’t underestimate the importance of driving carefully. Not only is this imperative for the safety of you, your passengers, fellow drivers and pedestrians, but also the longevity of your vehicle! Driving at the speed limit, braking gently, using the gears correctly and switching off the engine when idle will all help to minimise wear and tear and keep your car running smoothly.
Driving carefully will protect both the car’s internal components and its body. Bodywork repairs from bumps and scrapes could also set you back financially, especially if they affect your car’s performance.
Clean your car every couple of months
Cleaning your car regularly isn’t just about showing off your vehicle to its fullest! Cleaning can also help to keep your vehicle running efficiently and protect it against damage, so it should be an important part of your maintenance routine. This doesn’t mean you need to fork out for expensive car cleans; taking care of the task yourself is quick, easy and free!
When cleaning your car, don’t forget to tackle the inside and outside. Dusting, polishing and wiping the inside surfaces can prevent rust from developing, keep your seats and carpets in good condition, and stop the interior from becoming discoloured.
When it comes to cleaning the exterior of your vehicle, pay particular attention to your windscreen, tyres and any grooves that might collect grit. Rinsing and buffing your car’s body will help to prevent rust, keep your paintwork looking great, and stop debris from wedging into moving parts.
Pay attention to your car’s warning lights
Paying attention to any warning lights that flash up on the dashboard is essential to keeping your vehicle in great condition! Many drivers tend to ignore these warning signs and hope they go away, but the problem will only get worse if left unattended.
You should also make sure you know exactly what each warning light means. You’ll be able to find out this information by reading your vehicle manufacturer’s handbook, so spend a few minutes becoming familiar with these lights next time you get in the car.
If you have a garage, consider using it to protect your vehicle against the elements. We think of our cars as sturdy and built to weather anything the elements can throw at them, but there’s no harm in adding an extra barrier between them and the great outdoors.
Keeping your vehicle out of the sun, rain and wind will help to prevent corrosion, keep dust and grit out of its moving components, and offer extra protection against vandalism.
Top up your petrol or diesel regularly
We all know someone who only heads to the petrol station with just a few miles to go before their fuel tank empties completely. However, did you know that running your tank too low can damage your fuel pump? This is because it will start to collect any contaminants that have settled at the base of the tank.
It’s also risky to drive with a low tank, as you increase your chances of breaking down on the go. To avoid this, make sure to top up on fuel (whether your vehicle requires petrol or diesel) before your petrol gauge veers towards the empty tank signal. Never let your petrol tank run empty.
On this note - you must also make sure to top up your vehicle with the correct fuel! Filling a petrol car with diesel or vice versa will have severe consequences on the health of your vehicle, and you’ll need to fork out for repair services before it’s possible to drive again.
Inspect your tyres every few weeks
Looking after your car tyres is crucial to the safety of you and other drivers. Damaged tyres can seriously threaten the roadworthiness of your vehicle, so you must have them inspected by professional mechanics as part of your six-monthly routine car servicing. However, some tyre maintenance checks you’ll be able to take care of yourself.
This includes checking your tyre pressure with a gauge to prevent driving with poorly-inflated tyres. To make sure your tyres are topped up to the correct limits for your particular vehicle make and model, it’s important to check your manufacturer’s handbook.
Additionally, you must also inspect your tyres regularly to check their tread depth. It is illegal to drive with tyres with tread that falls below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, so make sure to examine this every couple of weeks for your peace of mind.
Top up fluids and liquids regularly
Many people forget about the importance of checking and replacing vehicle fluids, but neglecting this crucial maintenance task can have severe consequences. For instance, if you don’t check your engine oil regularly, you could keep driving with contaminated oil. Additionally, if you don’t top up your screenwash often, you might run into problems when it comes to cleaning your windscreen!
To tick this task off your checklist, make sure to inspect your engine oil, screenwash and coolant every couple of weeks. The more often you drive your car, the more often you should inspect and top up your fluids!
As dust and debris accumulate in your car, your vehicle’s filters (including oil filters and air filters) become prone to clogging. Over time, this can stop them from working efficiently and even cause foul odours to linger. Luckily, cleaning or replacing them is a quick and easy task to tick off your maintenance checklist!
If this isn’t something you want to tackle, book your vehicle in for routine car servicing. This is just one of the many tasks your chosen car mechanics can take care of, so you don’t have to.
Book in for a full car service
If you’re still feeling a little concerned or confused about keeping your car in the best possible condition, we highly recommend booking your vehicle in for a full car service at least once every six months. This should be in addition to - not instead of - your annual MOT, which is a legal requirement. In fact, regular vehicle servicing can even increase the chances of passing your next MOT, as mechanics will be able to identify and potentially resolve the issues standing between your pass and fail.
When you have your car serviced by Acorn Tyres and Servicing, we’ll inspect everything from your warning lights and seat belts to your brakes and tyres. We’ll assess the overall condition of your car, in addition to replacing your engine oil, filters and windscreen washer fluid on your behalf!
Booking your car in for a full car service is one of the most effective steps you can take to extend its lifespan and keep it on the road. As a result, car servicing can help you save money, mitigate vehicle-related stress and prevent long-term car repairs that could see you without your primary mode of transport.
Acorn Tyres and Servicing: Professional car service garage offering cost-effective car servicing in Aylesbury
Are you looking for experienced mechanics offering car repair near you? Make Acorn Tyres and Servicing your first port of call!
If you’re based in the Aylesbury area, you needn’t look further than our friendly and professional team of vehicle experts. Whether it’s time to book in for an MOT and service or you need tyre replacement solutions, we are on hand to help. We’ll get you back behind the wheel as quickly as possible while making sure your vehicle is in great condition and safe to drive.
To learn more about our range of vehicle maintenance and repair services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to working with you!
