Our Seven Top Home Car Maintenance Tips

Your car is likely to be one of the biggest and most expensive purchases you make, and if you want to get the best return on your investment, then it pays to ensure it’s looked after. That will prevent inconvenient vehicle breakdowns, prolong the useful life of the car and protect its value when you come to sell it on.

Here are a few tips on how you can maintain your car at home, as well as pointers on when you need a good garage.

Look After Your Car

1. The very first thing to do is to get out your owner’s manual. You’ll usually find it in the glove compartment or with the paperwork that came when you bought your car. This will tell you all you need to know about how frequently your engine oil and oil filters should be changed, when you should book a service, when tyres should be rotated and so on. All these things contribute to the smooth running of your engine, so aim to stick to the timescales given.
2. Once a month or before any longer journey than a quick trip to the shops, you should check the condition of your tyres. Your whole car relies on the performance of your tyres which should be properly inflated and in good, roadworthy condition. Make sure you replace your spare after any wheel changes and ensure that tyre puncture repairs are done by professionals, if necessary. If your tyre treads are less than 1.6mm deep anywhere round the circumference, it’s time to invest in new or part worn tyres in better condition.
3. Change your oil and the oil filter according to the schedule in your owner’s manual. Check the air filter at the same time. If you’re not sure how to do this, book your car in for vehicle servicing at least once a year and ask if they’ll do it for you as part of that process.
4. Check other fluids, including your coolant, brake fluid and windscreen washer fluid levels at the start of each new season. You can find tutorials for your make and model of car online if you don’t know how to do this; otherwise, ask your mechanic!
5. Keep a close eye – or ear, rather – on the condition of your brakes. If they sound different, like a squealing or grinding noise, for instance, or they feel spongy when you depress the footbrake, you should ask your garage to look at them as soon as possible for your own and others’ safety.
6. If your windscreen wipers aren’t clearing the screen as they should or they’re making an excruciating screeching noise while they’re in motion, buy and fit a replacement set.
7. Check your battery. If you’re having problems starting your car in the mornings or the engine won’t fire up altogether, your battery could be on its way out. Even if you don’t spot either of these signs, check the terminals frequently for signs of any corrosion. If you see a white or greenish-white deposit on the terminals or battery casing, clean it off with a toothbrush and a solution of baking soda and water.

Find a Trusted Garage

Our last piece of advice is to find a reliable garage, one you can use for everything from vehicle diagnostics and car repairs to breakdown recovery in Telford and more. If you’ve got a good garage on your side, car maintenance becomes a lot less stressful, and that can save you a great deal of hassle, inconvenience and money further down the line.

At Rescue and Repair Automotive Services, we like to think that applies to us! We provide everything you need, from servicing to repairs and breakdown recovery for cars, light commercial vehicles and 4x4s throughout the Shropshire area.