10 ways to look after your car in 2016

Your car is special, it makes sure that you get from point A to point B as quickly and safely as possible (sticking to the speed limits of course!).

At Vasstech, we think it’s important that you look after it and give it the care that it deserves so we’ve put together a list of our top 10 ways you can look after your car in 2016.

1. Tyres

Check your tyre pressure every month and rotate your tyres every 7,500 miles, or about once per year. Incorrect tyre pressure can lead to a ton of problems, including poor braking, instability, less gas mileage, and of course, a flat tyre, so check your tyre pressure with a gauge. Also, rotate your tyres often to make sure that they wear evenly, making sure you get the most before replacing them.

2. Brakes

Your brakes are also a critical part of safe driving. How often they need changing depends on the type of vehicle, type of use and your driving style, so be sure to get them checked regularly.

3. Lights

Change out any bad headlight bulbs as soon as you can as driving without them is both dangerous and illegal. You can check your brake lights when you’re in your vehicle by reversing up to a wall and hitting the brakes; you’ll be able to see the red lights reflecting off the wall and if you can’t see one or both then you’ll need to replace them (this, of course, works better at night). Remember to also check that all your indicators are working; do this by putting on your hazards, getting out of your car and checking each indicator.

4. Windscreen

Check for any minor chips as these can grow and crack. Many can be repaired by a windscreen specialist though, so don’t panic – if caught early – it’s not a huge cost.

5. Oil

You should ideally check the dipstick every fortnight and before undertaking any long journey. Change your oil every 5,000 – 7,000 miles.

6. Cooling System

Make sure you check your coolant level fairly frequently and top up when you need to – only do this when the engine is cold. During the winter months, you’ll need to increase the concentration of antifreeze. Antifreeze not only stops the coolant from freezing but also prevents the corrosion within the cooling system.

7. Treat your Car to some new wipers

Wipers do wear down over time and they will smear the windscreen when they become worn. It’s well worth giving them a good clean with some soapy water and a sponge regularly and getting them changed once a year for best performance.

8. Toolkit

You’ll need to get to grips with where your basic toolkit for your car is located and how to use it – after all, you never know when it’ll come in handy! This should contain at least a jack and wheel removal tools. Make sure you check out the location of the jacking points used to lift the car safely before you ever attempt any wheel changes. A lot of cars have locking wheel nuts so make sure that the toolkit includes the key or removal tool and remove this first before trying to remove any other wheel nut. These wheel nuts can be tough to remove so you might want to try using your legs to rotate the lug wrench.

9. Clean the inside and outside of your car every month

Keeping your car clean is like keeping your room clean, except everyone can see your car and gauge how dirty (or clean) you are – so make sure it’s not an embarrassment!

10. Change your air filter every 30,000 miles or once a year

It’s important to keep your car’s air filter as clean as possible, just like it is to keep your lungs nice a clean. A dirty air filter will actually hurt your acceleration and make your car less efficient. Be sure to check this if you haven’t done so for a while…or ever before!

If you have any questions about the maintenance of your car or would like to book your car in for a full service or M.O.T then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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