Top 10 tips for improving your car’s reliability

Keeping your car in tip-top condition is essential in extending the life of your vehicle. Knowing a few basic tips that you can do yourself can easily keep your car on the road for another good few years, but some issues are better dealt with by a reputable mechanic. Even if you drive a lease car, and you are familiar with the lease car process, you still need to have your lease car serviced regularly. You can read online reviews of why your car should be serviced regularly. 

Top 10 tips to servicing and maintaining your car:
1) Inspect and maintain your tires

Keeping your tires in good condition is essential in preventing an accident. Check your tire pressure and treads frequently. Too much pressure can cause a blowout, which can result in a major accident, while too little can increase your fuel consumption. Make sure your tires have at least 1mm of tread. A minimum of approximately 1mm tread is required by law.

2) Change the oil

Oil should be checked and topped up monthly if necessary to ensure that the oil levels are not low. Keeping your oil levels to what they should be keeps your engine running smoothly.

3) Check the fluids

Check all fluid levels monthly. These are the engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Ensure that the fluid levels of each are sufficient. You can change the fluid levels yourself.

4) Test the lights

You should check your lights regularly. Make sure that all lights are working properly, and replace dim bulbs if necessary. Keeping your lenses clean by washing them with toothpaste is just one way of ensuring your lenses are clean. You can read more tips on cleaning your light lenses.

5) Replace windshield wipers

Windshield wipers should be checked regularly, and replaced if there are any tears or cracks in the wiper. A worn out wiper can reduce your visibility in the rain, which could lead to you having an accident.

6) Change the engine air filter

The engine air filter helps keep dirt and other small particles out of the engine. The air filter should be changed annually. 

7) Regular servicing

Do not skip a service. Having your car serviced by a reputable mechanic can help identify any small problems before they become major issues. Mechanics have the best diagnostic tools to make sure your car is running as it should.

8) Have your brakes checked

Pay attention to the way your brakes sound when you push down on the pedal. Any shuddering or vibration from the brake pedal should be checked by a mechanic, as this could mean that your brake pads are worn and need to be changed.

9) Wash your car

Keeping the exterior of your car clean is just as important as keeping the engine and interior clean. Washing your car regularly can prevent any long term damage to the pain and bodywork from road salt and ice in Winter, to the sun and bird droppings in Summer.

10) Belts and hoses

Belts and hoses such as your timing belt and serpentine belt should be checked with every oil change to ensure that it is in working order and that there is no damage or wear and tear. Should one of these belts snap while you are driving, it can cause major engine problems.