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For many men, their cars are their pride and joy. Part of owning a car is maintaining it and keeping it looking good. But maintenance isn’t just to make sure it gets admiring glances from others, but also to make it safe and minimize your chance of being involved in a road traffic accident. Here are some top tips on keeping your car in mint condition.
Change filters regularly
Your car’s oil and air filters get clogged up over time so getting then renewed regularly is important. They should be replaced during a regular service, but they are fairly easy to replace yourself so you might want to give it a try.
Drive smoothly
We all like to put our foot down, but this isn’t the best thing for your car, or your safety. If you drive your car more gently you will reduce wear and tear while getting more miles per gallon. Smoothly changing gears, steering and using pedals are also important. If you drive carefully you will be much less likely to be involved in a car crash.
Top up fluids regularly
It is crucial that you keep your car’s fluids topped up as they are its lifeblood. Check your engine oil every two weeks and make sure it is topped up. Other areas to check are the coolant reservoir and the windscreen washer bottle.
Check your tires
Your tires are one of your car’s most important safety features and you should try to check them once a week. They grip you to the road, so if your tires are getting worn you should replace them as otherwise you risk being involved in a crash. The legal limit is 1.6mm but think about changing them when they get to 2 or 3mm. Also, make sure you check your tire pressures as under-inflated tires will increase your fuel consumption.
Keep up with services
Regular servicing will keep your car in top condition and prolong its life. Services are usually due every year or after a certain number of miles, such as 10,000. If a light comes on your dashboard don’t ignore it as it usually means your car needs maintenance.
Keep your car clean
We all want our car to look in the best condition, but keeping your car clean not only keeps it looking good, it can also extend its life. Grit and grime get into moving parts and the chassis, speeding up wear and corrosion.
Keep the weight down
If you carry extra weight in your car it will increase the amount of fuel you use and increase wear and tear on parts like tires and brakes.
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This content is brought to you by Carrie Tennick.
Photo: Shutterstock
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