General Maintenance Tips For Your Car

You will not want any extra expenses when it comes to your car. With fuel prices increasing and VAT due to return to 17.5% ensuring our cars are well maintained is very important. Here are a few tips to make sure your car does not cost you any more than is absolutely necessary:

If you get stuck in snowy or muddy areas it is important not to panic and attempt to free the car too quickly. Try not to spin the tyres at high speeds in an attempt to get out as this may exacerbate things and can lead to damage of the clutch and transmissions. In order to avoid a situation like this you can carry items such as gravel if you think snow or mud could be a problem.

Always make regular checks on your cars heater and defroster, especially if you live in colder climates as they play an important role when driving. Try not to overload your car as this will mean the engine has to work a lot harder as well as putting added pressure on the tyres. In your car manual there will be a recommended level not to exceed and it is important that you stick closely to this limit.

Shifting to neutral at red lights and in traffic jams will ease the pressure on your engine and this is especially useful for people commuting to and from work and often finds themselves stuck in the traffic. Ensure you are driving at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead will allow you to react to anything that may happen ahead and also helps reduce the chance of crashing.

Your tyres are a vital part of the car so checking them to make sure they are in top working order in important. Some manufacturers recommend having them rotated every 9,000 to 15,000 miles to help reduce the wear of the tyres.

Cleaning your car regularly will help reduce the chance of rust forming which can seriously damage a car. Any chips in the windscreen should be dealt with immediately as a small chip can quickly become a large crack if you hit a bump on the road or temperatures on the screen change rapidly.There are companies who will come out and repair a chip on the windscreen very quickly so make sure any problem is eradicated as soon as possible, and depending on your insurance policy this is often free.