3 basic car maintenance tips to keep in mind

There is much more to owning a car than filling it up and giving it a wash from time to time. If you own a car then you should know a least a few basic maintenance tips as your vehicle always has the potential to break down when you least expect it.

Neglecting your car will result in unreliability, poor performance and at the very worst, may even lead to an accident – and this is something that we all like to avoid. Here are 3 basic car maintenance tips to get you started.

Tyre Pressure

Many drivers overlook routinely checking the pressure of their tyres. This should be carried out on a monthly basis at the very least.  It’s important to know that if your tyres do not have enough air, then this will result in poor car performance.

Other things you could do to improve the tyre condition is clean off brake dust regularly. Brake dust will affect tyre performance so you should be sure to clean it off with a damp sponge and cold water when a build up of brake dust occurs.

Fluid levels

Some motorists believe that fluid levels on a car should be checked once a week, especially for older car models. If fluid levels are down then you may notice that your vehicle may perform less well than it should. It’s not just fluid levels that you should keep an eye on either. Other car components such as the brake, clutch and coolant fluids to name a few should all be inspected on a regular basis.

Before you check any of these things ensure the engine is cool. Be careful not to take the radiator cap off to check coolant levels. If the coolant system is still hot then it is still under pressure and the pressure release will burn you.

Know how to perform a ‘tune-up’

You don’t need to be a mechanic or even someone who is keen on cars to perform a basic ‘tune-up’. A tune-up will typically include replacing common parts like the air and fuel filter, plug wires and spark plugs. Under things worth checking when ‘under the hood’ include hoses and belts.

The rubber belts will become damaged over time so it’s best to get these checked every 25,000 miles, preferably replacing it every 50,000 miles.




If you are going to be doing any work that involves the electrical system be sure to disconnect the battery first.

Performing these tasks are often overlooked, but absolutely necessary if you like to have your car performing at its best.  Doing this will also save you money in the long run. If you don’t regularly care for your car with these checks then you will be consuming and wasting more petrol than you should be.

Other basic maintenance you might want to consider include bodywork or paint touch ups and lights. If you don’t feel confident handling lights then you can always ask a qualified mechanic to look at this for you.

Thanks to mercurycars.co.uk for supplying this guest post.