Top Tips for Easy Car Care *

When it comes to cars, we all know how much I love them. I so miss having a car of my own, but financially it makes so much more sense for Mike and I to continue to share as we don’t use it much. We often discuss the next type of car we’re going to get once we’ve bought our house, so for now, dreaming of what I want will just have to do. As we don’t use Mike’s car often we do have to keep a check on it to ensure nothing has gone wrong in between drives so I have put together a few tips on how to keep your car in tip-top condition and what to keep an eye on…

Tyres
You should know the correct tyre pressures for your car (mine was hidden in the petrol cap) and check them at least once a month, or if you’re driving situation changes. I had three different pressures for my old depending on the number of people and luggage I’m carrying and Mike’s does too, just slightly different numbers due to the size of the car. In relation to that, you should always check tyre tread and condition to make sure they are safe to drive on. If just one tyre needs regular top-ups, it may have a slow puncture so check for that too.

Engine oil
Check the dipstick at least once a month and if you’re going on a long journey; there’s nothing worse than having no oil as it can do SO much damage! You should also have your oil and filter changed at recommended service intervals using oil of the correct specification. I had mine changed a fair few times over the 5 years of owning my car!

Brakes
Your brakes are just so important as if they’re not working properly, you can not only do damage to other people’s cars but you can get severely hurt or hurt others. Even if you are the tiniest bit unsure as to if they are working 100% then get them checked. You can get your car brakes fitting service done in Stirling at Fife Autocentre if you’re local to them.

Water
Check the water coolant regularly and top up as needed – but only when the engine is cold, you don’t want to be sticking your hand into a hot engine… OUCH!

Lights
Check all lights weekly, if you own a newer car then your dashboard should highlight if you have a broken bulb but don’t forget to check indicators, brake and fog lights. You really should clean your lights regularly so other drivers can see your signals clearly when you’re out driving too.

Bodywork
You should check your bodywork for signs of rust as this can cause problems too. A good carport also help this bodywork for y our car.Also, if you get bird poo on your car, you’re going to have to get that off pronto as it can ruin your paintwork. It’s super easy to remove, simply soak kitchen towel in hot water and place on the bird poo. This will soften it enough to just wipe off.

How do you look after your car?