10 Simple Car Maintenance Tips for Every Driver
The EDEN Parts Team
Toyota parts specialists
Check your oil
Once a month, with the car parked on level ground and the engine off for a few minutes, pull the dipstick, wipe it, push it back in and read the level. It should sit between the two marks. Use the grade of oil in your owner's manual, and change it at the interval it recommends.
Keep tyre pressure right
Under-inflated tyres wear faster, use more fuel and handle badly. Check the pressure monthly when the tyres are cold, using the figures on the placard in the driver's door jamb. Don't forget the spare.
Replace the engine air filter
A clogged air filter makes the engine work harder to breathe. It is one of the cheapest and easiest jobs on the car, and most can be swapped in minutes with no tools. Check it roughly every 15,000 km and replace it when it looks dirty.
Listen to your brakes
Squeals, grinding, a pulsing pedal or a car that pulls to one side are all reasons to have the brakes checked soon. Brake parts are cheap to replace when caught early and expensive when ignored.
Keep the battery clean
White or blue crust around the terminals adds resistance and can mimic a failing alternator. Disconnect the battery, scrub the terminals with a wire brush and a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, then reconnect them firmly.
Top up your fluids
Every few weeks, look at the coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and washer fluid reservoirs. Each has min and max marks. A level that keeps dropping points to a leak worth finding.
Replace worn wiper blades
If your wipers streak, squeak or skip, they are not clearing the screen properly. Most blades need replacing every 6 to 12 months, and sooner in harsh sun. It takes two minutes and is cheap insurance in the rain.
Don't ignore warning lights
A steady amber light means get it checked soon. A flashing or red light means stop safely as soon as you can. An inexpensive OBD2 code reader plugs in under the dash and tells you what the car's computer has flagged, which is a good starting point before any workshop visit.
Check every light on the car
Once a month, walk around the car with the lights on. Check headlights on low and high beam, tail lights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights. A blown bulb can earn you a fine and is a real safety problem. A cracked or foggy lens is worth replacing too.
Wash the car, including underneath
Regular washing removes bird droppings, tree sap, road grime and salt before they eat into the paint. If you drive near the coast or on dirt roads, rinse the underbody too. While you are at it, look over the mirrors, bumpers and trim for chips and cracks.
The short version
None of this is difficult, and none of it takes long. Put a reminder in your phone for a monthly check and a bigger one each season. When something does need replacing, choose a part that is made for your exact vehicle, so it fits properly and lasts.
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