The top 3 tips on improving your car’s health

Cars are often the pride and joy of the driver. They are not just a vehicle to take us from A to B, but are embedded into our families, they often even have their own room on the side of our houses! So, we should treat them with the care we would any other member of our family. We’ve collected the best tips to keep your car running its best, most efficient way for as long as it can. Some of our tips will require some tools from a UK Tool Centre to perform the tasks.

1. Drive smoothly

Always be sympathetic to your engine when you are driving. This will help reduce wear and tear of the engine and will get more miles out of your tank. Reducing the need for sudden breaking and gearbox changes coupled with smooth steering and will help aid this. With this being said, you should occasionally rev your engine fully, at least once every few hundred miles, but only when you are on a quiet road and the oil is warm. This will stop carbon deposits from building up within the valves. Some diesel cars have problems with clogged diesel particulate filters (these trap exhaust emissions classed as harmful) which can be cleared by a longer motorway run at least once a month.

2. Top up your fluids

The fluids that live within your car are the equivalent to the blood running around your veins, so keeping it them flowing around your car is vital. It is easy enough to check your oil levels – just open the bonnet and remove the dipstick, the level should be in-between the minimum and maximum markers and if you have a petrol car will be a light yellow/brown colour. If you own a petrol car and the oil is dark or dirty, it should be replaced immediately, however this is a normal part of the process for a diesel car so there is no need to worry about the colour of your oil. While checking your oil levels, also check the coolant reservoir. Top this up with 50% distilled water and 50% antifreeze. You should also check the screen wash levels at this point.

3. Check your tyres

This may sound obvious, as a general inspection of the outside and inside of your car with just your eye is a regular must, however you’d be surprised how many people do not check this vital area. Your tyres are arguably one of your cars most important safety features, so you should aim to check them regularly, at least once a week. This check could not only save money but save your life. When underinflated, fuel consumption will increase. Check your car’s handbook for the recommended pressure to inflate your tyres to, remember these may be different for the front or back.

Hopefully these tips will help you keep your car running it’s best for as long as it can.