Car Maintenance & Ownership

Car Maintenance & Ownership

Car issues aren’t always sudden. On the highway, a blowout may trace back to unnoticed low tire pressure. A freezing engine may have just needed a service to avoid issues. Ignoring the cheaper option before the more expensive repair is often the route taken for most repair bills.

This section is here to avoid those bills. We believe in preventative care for your car, and provide the means to do so without in-depth service manuals or mechanic knowledge.

What will you need and when

Service intervals exist because something will need to be replaced. Oil and filters need to be swapped, and brake fluid is replaced among other things. A full service once a year or every 12,000 miles is generally the minimum for most vehicles. Check your manufacturer guide for your specific vehicle. If you purchased a used car and the service history isn’t great, then go ahead and reset the service counter.

Cam belts are likely the most underestimated car component. Replacing one costs about £300-600. If you’re unlucky and one snaps, it may require a full engine rebuild at a cost of more than £1,000. These are recommended to be serviced every 4-5 years or 60,000-100,000 miles, and there is no question of “if.”

Tyre risks. The law in the UK demands that cars must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm; however, the car’s handling can deteriorate before that limit — and even more in the rain. Check your tyre pressure every fortnight. The correct pressure is listed in the driver’s side door jamb, tyre manual, or the car manual. Having under-inflated tyres can lead to more rapid tread wear, increased fuel consumption, and degraded handling.

Knowing when to call a mechanic

Car owners can do more than basic car maintenance. Most owners can check and top off fluid levels, replace the windscreen washer, and change a bulb. Beyond those basics a certified mechanic should be called. Some car maintenance can be simple, but getting car maintenance involving brakes or suspension, which can cause accidents, wrong can be more expensive than the cost of the initial proper maintenance.

Garages are not all the same. Franchise dealers can be expensive, but they are usually the best. Independently owned garages can be hit or miss. A quick check of a garage’s Google reviews and whether they are VAT registered, and do public liability work, can help you choose who to trust with your car.

Legally, an car owner must do an annual MOT every year for cars that are three years old or older. The MOT test helps check the safety of a car’s brakes, lights, tyres, and emissions. A car passing an MOT test only means it is not breaking the law of being unroadworthy. The car could still be in bad shape. A car passing an MOT should not be equated with a car in good shape and it is safe to drive.

The articles below cover more specifics and we are planning on expanding regularly. If you check back don’t be surprised if a topic you want to read on has been added.