How to take care of your car

Your car is likely to be one of the biggest purchases you will make, so it pays to take care of it the best you can. A well-maintained vehicle will run more efficiently, help keep you safe, and reduce the chance of a breakdown that will cost you precious time and even a lot of money.

Even if your car is new and you don't drive many miles, proper maintenance is vital: a car is a complex machine that requires care and regular use to keep it in good condition. While some jobs are best left to professionals, there are very simple tasks that you can and should do at home. Here are our top 10 maintenance tips to help you take care of your car.

1. Keep it clean.

It's nice to drive a spotlessly clean car, but there are more practical reasons to pull out the bucket and sponge.  

In fact, you are required by law to keep your license plates, headlights, rear-view mirrors, and windows of your car clean. Dirty license plates are harder to read; dirty headlights and mirrors are not as effective; and your view may be obscured by dirty windows. 

It is also important to keep the interior of the car clean and tidy. Dirt and dirt around buttons and knobs can prevent them from working properly. And the debris could obstruct the pedals, gear lever and handbrake. Debris caught under the brake pedal is especially dangerous and can even cause an accident.

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2. Add fluids

Cars require many fluids to function properly, including oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Checking the level of these fluids is easy on your own.  

Traditionally, all cars came with a dipstick in the engine bay to check the oil level. Many modern cars no longer have dipsticks and instead use the car's computer to monitor the level, displaying it on the dashboard. You should check the manual that comes with your vehicle to see if this is the case.

If your car has a dipstick, check the oil when the engine is cold. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean. Insert it again and pull it out again. Check the pressure gauge towards the bottom. If the oil level on the dipstick is near or below the minimum level, add oil. Your vehicle owner's manual will tell you which type of oil to add. This very it is important to use the right type of oil for your engine design if you want to avoid problems later on.

You can see coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid levels in their "reservoirs" in the engine bay. Again, if they are close to or below the minimum level marked in the tank, they need to be topped up. Simply remove the cap and fill with fresh liquid.

3. Watch your windshield

You must keep your car's windshield clean and free from damage so that you always have a good view. It is very important to keep the windshield washer fluid topped up and the wiper blades clean.

It is also worth checking if the wiper blades are damaged. Remove them from the windshield and run your finger along the blade. If it seems jagged, it needs to be replaced. Blades are available at any auto parts store and are easy to install. (Just make sure you buy the correct length.)

Any chips or cracks on the windshield should be repaired as soon as possible. Even small flaws can quickly turn into big problems. Any that are too large or in a specific area of ​​the windshield will cause your vehicle to fail the inspection.

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4. Check your tires

It is important to maintain the correct pressure in your vehicle's tires. Low pressure makes your car less fuel efficient and affects how it drives, with potentially dangerous consequences. Open your car's driver's door and you'll see a panel on the inside edge that shows the correct pressure for the front and rear tires. Test your tires by attaching a pressure gauge (inexpensive and available at gas stations) to their air valves. Most gas stations offer air pumps that allow you to enter the correct pressure and then automatically inflate the tire to that level.  

It is also necessary to monitor the tread depth of the tires. Cars are required by law to have 3mm tread. You can test this by inserting one side of a 20 pence coin into the groove of the tread. If you can't see the raised outer edge of the coin, the tread is deep enough. Repeat across the entire width of the tire if possible. 

Also pay attention to any cuts, tears, nails, spikes, or other damage. If any damage has exposed the metal structure of the tire, it must be replaced immediately.

Leaving the vehicle unused for extended periods of time can result in "flat spots" on the tires. Simple driving should remove them, but in extreme cases the tire is deformed and needs to be replaced.

5. Watch the fuel gauge!

Running out of fuel is not only incredibly inconvenient, it can also be bad for your car because debris at the bottom of the fuel tank can get into the engine. Diesels need their fuel systems to be "bled out" of any trapped air before they can be refilled. If your car is running low, resist the temptation to drive to the less expensive gas station further away. This could turn out to be a false economy if you end up having to pay for repairs or restoration if you run away on your way there.

6. Keep an eye on your car's battery

When you turn off the car's ignition, any electrical equipment that has not been turned off, such as a light or stereo system, goes into standby mode, so it automatically turns on the next time the car is started. This standby mode consumes some power from the battery, so if the car is not used for a long time, the battery may be drained.

The air conditioning system draws more power from the battery when idle than anything else and can drain the battery in just a couple of weeks. Be sure to turn off all vehicle electrical equipment before turning off the ignition. 

If you know you won't be driving for a while and you have a driveway or garage, you might consider purchasing a "drip charger" that supplies enough power to your battery from your home outlet to keep it from draining. .

7. Keep your car away from leaves

If you park your car under a tree, any falling leaves can get caught in cracks and crevices in the car. This can be a particular problem around the hood and trunk lid, where leaves can clog water drains, air filters, and even the heating system. This can lead to water getting into the car and even rust. Dirt and dirt accumulating under the car and in the wheel arches can have the same effect.

Keep an eye on the fauna as well as the flora. If your car is not used regularly, rodents can take up residence under the hood. They can cause serious damage by chewing through wires and hoses.

8. Drive regularly

The car is very similar to the human body in that it deteriorates if it is not exercised regularly. Simply driving a car helps keep it fit and healthy. Ideally, you should drive 20 miles or so at least every couple of weeks, and make sure that includes some faster roads. This will get the car's fluids circulating through its systems, warming up the engine and removing any flat spots from the tires.

9. Keep your particulate filter clean

If your car has a diesel engine, you may need extra care. These engines have a device in the exhaust system known as a particulate filter. This is to reduce emissions of harmful chemicals such as nitrogen oxides, which can cause breathing problems.

A diesel particulate filter, known as a DPF, collects chemicals and then burns them using heat from the exhaust gases. This is only possible if the engine is warmed up to full operating temperature. The engine usually only reaches this temperature on long, fast trips. If you mostly do short trips, the filter won't be able to burn off the chemicals it collects and will eventually clog up, reducing engine power and possibly damaging it. Replacing a particulate filter is very expensive, so if you make a lot of short trips, it's worth thinking carefully about whether you need a diesel in the first place.

10. Service your car regularly

By far the best way to keep your car in shape and working order is to have it serviced regularly and properly by a qualified mechanic. Many cars will remind you with a message on the dashboard when maintenance is due. When in doubt, check your vehicle owner's manual or service book to find out when the next service is due.

If you want to be sure that your car is in the best possible condition, you can get your car's safety check at a Cazoo service center free of charge. 

Cazoo Service Centers offer a full range of services with a 3 month or 3000 mile warranty on any work we do. To request a booking, simply select the service center closest to you and enter your vehicle's registration number.