Car care tips and tricks

While there’s no substitute for a car service at Dumfries MOT Centre, keeping an eye on your vehicle is a grand idea during those in-between times. Here are some car care tips and tricks.

Does your car need a service?

Does your car need a service? Every 12,000 miles or every 12 months is usually recommended as the benchmark, whichever comes sooner. Best to check your manual and mileage to avoid leaving it until it’s too late. Neither should you ignore dashboard messages.

The moving parts in your car wear out over time, and regular maintenance can help keep them supple and healthy. Speak to us about filter replacements, oil changes, plus replacing components like the timing and drive belts.

Book your car service here.

Horn of plenty 

Sounding your horn might be the highlight of your day. Give it a blast in the name of safety from time to time to check it still works and is plenty loud enough. Effectively alerting other drivers to your presence is essential. 

Beep heat 

The anti-freeze component of coolant might lull you into thinking that you don’t have to worry about it in the summer as much. But you should really keep an eye on it all year round to ensure it’s doing its job. 

Tread alert

Tyres are king. Inflate them. They’re the only point of contact that your car has with the road. Treat them with some TLC and you’ll extend their life. Underinflated tyres increase the risk of punctures and waste fuel. Check the pressure of all your tyres weekly and keep them at the level recommended by the manufacturer, again, in your manual. 

Cool and the van

The world beneath the bonnet might seem like Middle Earth but becoming more familiar with it can be good for your car or any other vehicle for that matter. Here lurks liquids other than coolant, like oil, power steering brake fluid and screen wash. And we’ve already written a blog on this, so go check it out. Ideally, these should be checked monthly. 

Stone Hinge 

Hinge-watch pays off. They can unfortunately start sticking with wear and tear over time and leave you feeling like you’re driving Fred & Wilma Fintstone’s car. But you needn’t let things deteriorate like this when a little bit of lubricating oil will do the trick. Likewise, lithium grease applied directly to the hinge, making sure to wipe away the excess. This is also a surefire way to keep those pesky squeaks at bay. 

Grime Wash 

Cleaning your car isn’t just something for Sundays. It can also help to extend the life of its parts. Road grime and salt can eat away at the exposed areas of your car, so giving everything a regular clean can prevent any lasting damage. But never use washing-up liquid. It can damage your paintwork in the long term, so best to use specialist products. 

Screen test 

Scan your windscreen for chips that can sometimes turn into cracks that require a replacement rather than repair. Check your windscreen wipers are fit for purpose too, not looking like a pair of false eyelashes hanging on for dear life. A clean windscreen can help prolong the life of your wiper blades. 

Don’t hit the throttle 

Giving the throttle too much welly puts an unnecessary strain on your engine, increasing the wear and tear on your brakes, steering, and suspension. Only making short journeys robs several components of the chance to warm up and work as they should. The battery needs longer drives to be fully recharged by the alternator, while oil needs a longer journey to evaporate accumulated moisture. Diesel engines require a good run every couple of weeks to prevent the diesel particulate filter from blocking. 

Handbrakes at dawn 

Use your handbrake when you park up to keep everything moving freely in a manual transmission. Your driveway or somewhere without traffic is ideal, so you can test your footbrake safely too. 

Smoke and mirrors 

Start the engine outdoors in an airy space to check for any cracks and listen for any unusual noises or smoke. Ensure your mirrors are visible before each journey. 

Camera obscura 

Give the lens on your reversing camera a good clean too. 

Turn the lights on! 

Many people drive around blissfully unaware of lights being out on their car. Why not get someone to pop out the next time you start your car at dusk to check them all – including your rear-intensity fog lights.

Rust issues  

The first signs of rust shouldn’t be ignored as if untreated, they can affect your car’s structural framework.