Top 3 Car Maintenance Tips
If you are a car owner, we have one question for you – how much do you know about how the inside of your vehicle works? It doesn’t matter whether or not you are an automotive engineer; however, if you are, then this article is probably not for you.
On the other hand, if you are not an automotive engineer, then you will immensely benefit from this brief list of essential car maintenance tips:
Check the Engine Oil
The only condition is that you don’t own an electric car – electric cars lack crankcases that contain lubricant. Also, if you own a modern BMW, which of course doesn’t have dipsticks, you don’t need to check engine oil.
To check the engine oil, all you need to do is to make sure that the car is sitting on a relatively level surface. If you just parked your vehicle, you ought to wait a few minutes as the engine oil might not have completely drained back, which could result in a potentially false reading.
That said, simply pull the dipstick out, wipe it off with a piece of cloth or and place it back into the tube from where it came. Subsequently, pull the dipstick out again and read the level—nothing to worry about if the oil indicator stands between the low and full marks.
Now, it is important to mention here that this is the case where more is not better. Simply put, having loads of oil in the engine can be really bad. It can cause aeration and many other car-related issues.
Check Tire Pressure
While brake inspection is a crucial element of car maintenance, it is essential to mention that all car owners should be able to assess their tire pressure. This is a very simple task – just remove the valve cap and stick a gauge sturdily over it.
Make sure it fits well so no air can leak out from the edges, as this can lead to an inaccurate measurement. It is advised to maintain the recommended tire pressure by the car manufacturers. Speaking of tires, every car owner should be able to change a flat tire – absolutely mandatory!
Add Windshield Wiper Fluid
It is quite obvious that unobstructed visibility is crucial for road safety. You must add windshield wiper fluid to ensure that your car’s windshield is clear of precipitation and road dirt. That said, keep your reservoir filled with plenty of wiper fluid. To do so, pop the hood and look for a cap. For easy spotting, the caps are usually blue. Pop the cap open and fill it up with windshield fluid.
There is also a great chance that you might need a fresh set of windshield wipers which is also quite easy to swap. There is often a small button attached to the windpipes to release the blade. The blade shouldn’t be very difficult to swap out, so give this a try the very moment you detect smearing rather than wiping.
