General Car Maintenance

General car maintenance for all. Keeping your car in tip top condition (or as close as you can get to it), can help prevent a lot of potential hassle. Generally a well serviced car will give you a much happier ownership relationship with your car.

Get yourself a maintenance manual, you never know when you might need it, also the internet has loads of forums/people who may have had a problem/question like yours and your answer may just be a click away. The lists below are made up of jobs that most anyone with a bit of practise can carry out.

I'm not putting a time period for these to be done, all cars will have different schedules, especially if they have modifications. But generally the list below would need to be done from a weekly to annual basis.

Check/Change:

• Check fluids regularly pref once a month - use recommended or better fluids
• Check the oil level (on a level surface). While your at it, check for any water contamination under the oil filler cap - if there's any gunge (normally a dirty cream colour), then this is usually a sign that water has got into the engine. Have the engine oil changed as per the manufacturers recommendations or to the specifications needed for any modifications you have
• Change the oil filter at the same time as an oil change
• Coolant – use the recommended mix of water and coolant (antifreeze) for the time of year/weather conditions
• Brake fluid - use the correct dot rating and keep topped up
• PAS fluid - same as brake fluid
• Washer fluid - top up as necessary
• Automatic gearbox oil – please refer to your owners manual on procedure
• Tyres - check the pressure when cold (see owners manual for pressure), check the tread depth (1.6mm over three quarters is the legal minimum)
• Check your exhaust for any blowing or perished rubber hangers
• Check all under bonnet hoses for cracks and check they are secure
• Check all lighting
• Refill washer bottle
• Check all under bonnet wiring for splits, cuts, burning/melts (check they're not near a hot manifold)
• Batteries are generally maintenance free nowadays, however you can still make sure the cables on the terminals are secure

Checks/Changes To Do Anually Or Longer (Again Dependant On The Mods/Use Of Your Car):

• Check, clean or replace the spark plugs
• Check or replace the brake pads/shoes
• Brake hoses/pipes – pump the brake pedal a few times, it should become firm, if not you may have a leak in the system, air in the system or if it is just spongy and doesn't get worse, may just need to be adjusted
• Auxillary belts – check/replace te alternator (power steering, a/c) belts
• Replace the fuel filter
• Check the exhaust condition
• Change the brake fluid
• Replace the air filter – if required
• Check the suspension for bounce
• Road nuts – tightened
• Replace coolant
• Check spare tyre
• Grease the battery terminals to avoid corrosion

Why not take a look at the tools article to help with your general car maintenance.

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