Keith’s Guide to Keeping Your Car On the Road

Posted on: 17 February 2022

If you are a car owner, you should keep in mind that undertaking preventative maintenance on your car is a crucial thing. Preventative vehicle maintenance helps keep your car running smoothly, thus avoiding major problems that can lead to costly repair bills down the line. 

While you can minimise vehicle downtime by getting your car serviced according to the various time or mileage intervals recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, there are things you can do to keep the car in tiptop running condition between car services. 

Here are some basic car maintenance tasks that don't have to wait until your next trip to the car service shop.

Checking your engine oil

Timely engine oil changes are crucial for keeping your car running smoothly and reliably, as it prevents harmful particulates from damaging the engine.

While your vehicle's manufacturer will recommend the time or mileage intervals at which you should change your engine oil, you may need an oil change sooner than your normal schedule. Certain factors such as how you drive and where you drive can increase the strain on your vehicle's engine, resulting in a faster breakdown of the oil.

As a part of preventative car maintenance, you should check your engine oil between normal car services. Fresh, clean oil is amber in colour. If your engine oil looks dark and dirty, it might be time to have it replaced.

Cleaning your battery

Many people often overlook the importance of keeping their car batteries clean. Yet, the corrosion that builds up on battery terminals over time has the potential to disrupt the proper flow of electricity to the car. When your car doesn't receive adequate voltage supply from the battery, auto electrical problems are bound to arise.

With that said, it is a good idea to inspect your battery between car services and keep it free of the corrosion that occurs at the terminal connectors over time.

To remove corrosion from your battery terminals, you'll need to disconnect the connectors and scrub off the corrosion with an old toothbrush and an alkaline solution like a mixture of baking soda and warm water. The alkaline solution will help eat away at the corrosion. 

Checking and maintaining your tyre pressure

You don't have to wait until you have a flat tyre to give your car tyres some attention. Keeping the tyres properly inflated is essential to keep you safe on the road and to maximise the life of the tyres. It's a good idea to check your tyre pressure too when you refuel your car at the servo. Better yet, buy a tyre pressure gauge so you can check your tyre pressure whenever you want.

When it comes to cars, a little preventative maintenance can go a long way in minimising vehicle downtime and avoiding costly vehicle repair bills down the line. That said, don't hesitate to visit a local car service shop if you detect any car problems that require urgent attention.