Car Maintenance Tips

Car Maintenance Tips

There is an age old saying of prevention is better than cure – and the same goes for your car! In order to prevent hefty repair bills, you should complete maintenance and upkeep of your vehicle with regular checks.

We have prepared a list of our top 10 quick car maintenance checks!

1. Engine Oil.

• It is quick and easy to check if your car engine needs oil. To check your oil, park on even ground and wait until your engine has cooled down after driving. Pull out your dipstick, wipe it clean and push all the way down until the top is seated properly in the dip tube again.
• Pull the dipstick out again and check the level of the oil. If it’s between the high and low marks – these are denoted by two dots, or an ‘H’ and ‘L’.
• If the dipstick test dictates that your oil is low, top it up a little.

2. Tyres.

• Tyre pressure and tread should be checked regularly. Bald tyres are a safety hazard, always ensure your tyre tread is within the legal limits.

3. Coolant levels.

• Similarly to when checking your oil, wait until your engine is cool to check your coolant level. Your coolant tends to be in a semi-transparent bottle, and should have ‘low’ and ‘high’ markings on the outside. The level of coolant in the bottle should be between the two levels.

4. Windscreen.

• You should check your windscreen regularly for damage. If you spot chips, these should be repaired as soon as possible as if they are not addressed, they can grow and crack. If the damage cannot be repaired, your windscreen may need replaced.

Windscreen cover comes as standard with all Hughes Insurance comprehensive car insurance policies*, click here for more information.

5. Windscreen wipers.

• Your windscreen wipers should be replaced once a year to prevent smearing.

6. Screen wash.

• Keep your screen wash topped up regularly with a good screen wash additive – preferably one which prevents freezing and can clear oily grime.

7. Lights.

• Lights should be checked as often as once a week – this includes your indicators, reversing lights, brake lights and fog lights. Any dirt on the lenses should be cleaned off.

8. Toolkit.

• You should always keep a small tool kit in your vehicle - at the very least, this should contain a jack, and wheel removal kit. Other tools which are useful to keep in the car include a set of spanners, a pair of pliers, an Allen key, a tyre pressure gauge, WD40 and a roll of duct tape, and a box of latex gloves.

9. Power steering.

• When your car is being serviced, ensure that the hydraulic fluid reservoir is filled. The levels should then be checked once a month.

10. Bodywork

• You should occasionally look over the bodywork of your car for signs of damage or rust.

The above checks are quite standard, it is a good idea to book your car in for regular services with a professional mechanic.

*As with all insurance policies, terms, limits and exclusions apply.