Checks You Need to Do Before Taking Your Car to Servicing

Unlike the ’80s and 90’s vehicles, today’s four-wheels have a more complex system. The modern cars feature fully automatic transmission system, and auto-diagnosing and computer-controlled electronics. Yet the great news is, you can follow those traditional car care rules in today’s time. Regular servicing and proper maintenance will add more years to your car’s lifespan and improve its performance too.

There are several car care checks that you need to do on your own before you decide to take your vehicle to a local car services station. No, you need not be a mechanic or a super-whizz kid to perform these fundamental checks. Want to know what are they? Keep reading.

Oil Change

This is one of the most fundamental things every car owner needs to keep track of to ensure a safe and comfortable ride always. Make sure you know when the oil and oil filter needs to be changed. Typically, auto engineers recommend car owners to change oil at every 2000-3000 miles. You may drive more miles with no major threat depending on your car condition and driving habits. However, you must change oil and filter every 5000 miles.

You can check the user manual or browse the web to learn how you can check the engine oil level on own. You have to ensure the recommended level all the time for the efficient functioning of the engine. Or you can ask for oil change whenever you take your car for regular servicing at a local garage. The experts can recommend the best-suited motor oil for your vehicle depending on the weather condition.

Remember, your car engine needs light oil in colder days and heavy oil on hot days. Selecting the right motor oil depending on the specific climate condition plays a crucial role in your driving experience and repair bills in the long-term.

Basic Checks You Need To Perform Under The Hood

Routine maintenance of your car needs you to open the hood once in a while and perform some basic checks as mentioned below.

• Engine oil color and oil level
• Power steering and brake fluid level
• Belts
• Transmission fluid
• Coolant level
• Battery

It is important to ensure all fluids are filled above the minimum line. Refill them or replace them whenever needed. You can also keep eye on the electrical connections, wires, and belts if they aren’t damaged or worn out. All these checks are typically a part of full car services and interim car services offered by local garages across the country.

You can also check your battery connections if they aren’t loosely fitted or corroded. Ask yourself if the battery remains charged properly doesn’t cause any trouble white starting the engine.

It is vital to remember that a car battery needs to be replaced every 5 years. Many garages in the country offer free battery inspection and replacement service. If you find difficult to start the engine, your battery needs to be charged or get it checked by a mechanic.

Visual Checks

It is a good habit to check all lights, indicators, tires, seat belts, windshield wipers and other visual parts of the car body on your own before you take your car for servicing. If you find any issue such as a burst lamp, chipped windshield, worn-out seat belts or damaged tire tread, you can report the problems to your car service station and get them all fixed.