General maintenance tips for your vehicle

For at least once a week, you need to look around your vehicle, and try and see if there is any leakage. Leakages could result from antifreeze, water or oil , and this might cause something to malfunction. If you do detect any leakages, take your vehicle to a repair shop, where a professional can find out what fault if there is, and repair it safely.

Make sure you also check your tyres, and see if they can be re-inflated. You also need to check tread depth , so that you know if it is time to replace your tyres. We’ve discussed tread depth in detail here. For atleast once a month, check and change your oil – or every 3000 miles, or whatever comes first. If possible also check the brakes, wipers and change them if they are worn out.

Not everyone is a mechanic, but most things can be done as small DIY projects. Idealy a responsible driver should always know how (or know a relative or a friend who can) to replace some minor faulty parts, and how to recognize when something is warn out . It can be among the following

many batteries require little to no maintenance, and this is only because of the advanced technology used. But to be on the safe side, you should really check it periodically just to ensure that it is not leaking battery acid, or that is has somehow deformed. Batteries can die without giving any warning signals, so a regular checkup is important.

Air filters
This is usually done every 12000 miles, and it is probably of the simplest replacements in a vehicle. You can find this filter under the hood of your vehicle, usually in a black rectangular box with metal clips on the sides.

Windshield wipers
You will need new wiper blades every six months or so, and you can occasionally clean them, but ultimately, the rubber will become worn out, and a replacement will be needed. You can consult the box on how to replace them, and that is quite an easy task.

Spark plugs
Most spark plugs need replacing after about 30.000 miles, but just be sure, check the vehicle’s manual, and check if it suggests otherwise. While it can sound like a lot of work, it is a pretty simple process, and with a little patience you will do it. Check your guide for further instructions and if you need any help, don’t be afraid to ask your mechanic.