Car Maintenance for New Drivers

Clutch control, reversing, parallel parking, gear changes: there’s lots to learn when you are learning to drive for the first time. Understanding what to do behind the wheel is hard enough without having to worry about what’s going on under the bonnet.

But to make sure the smooth running of your vehicle in the future, it is important that you take the time to develop at least a basic understanding of what it takes to maintain your car. This can save time, money and even the chance of a road traffic accident.

If you are a young driver taking on your first car there is a good chance that you will be looking to purchase a used vehicle. Older vehicles inevitably require more maintenance due to wear and tear over time, so a good grounding in car maintenance can help to keep problems to a minimum.

It might be daunting at first, but once you become comfortable with these they will not only equip you to handle a number of scenarios; it will also offer you genuine peace of mind.

Tyres

Let’s start from the bottom. Looking after your tyres can go a long way towards helping your car handle correctly, improve fuel efficiency and prevent an accident.

Here’s a checklist you might find useful:
- Pressure – Checking your tyre pressure once a week is advisable. Follow the guidelines in your car’s handbook or on the label in the door of your vehicle to find the optimum pressure for your front and back tyres.
- Tread – Don’t be fooled by the slick tyres you see in Formula 1, letting your cars lose tread is not good for handling, especially in wet conditions where the grooves help to displace water and avoid aquaplaning.
- Rotation – The rigours of driving don’t always cause your tyres to wear evenly. With that in mind, it’s advisable to rotate your tyres every 5,000 miles or so. Of course, to do this you will need to know how to change a tyre!

Brakes

If there is one thing that is as important to car safety as your tyres it is your brakes. The grease, moisture and grit that flicks up from the road into the brakes can cling to the discs and affect performance.

Luckily you don’t need any technical knowledge to clear brake dust off. A damp sponge and cold water is usually enough to get rid of the worst of it.

Engine
Learning all there is to know about the internal combustion engine can take years of training. And even then, with car technology moving on at such a rapid pace, even highly skilled mechanics must constantly update their knowledge.
There are, however, a number of features that are easily visible and can be common causes of problems for motorists. Get to grips with the basics and ten minutes of your time every now and again can help to maintain the reliability of your vehicle.

Here are the areas you will benefit from checking on a regular basis. Remember, the space under a bonnet can be tight and dark, so you may require a torch to help you see what you are doing.

- Belts – Drive belts made of rubber are used to loop around the pulleys of the engine. Over time the wear and tear caused by thousands of miles of driving can cause belts to deteriorate and perish. While this typically takes around 50,000 miles to occur, it is worth inspecting your belt every 25,000 miles or so. Of course, your local garage will also keep a close eye on drive belts during your annual service.
- Oil levels – It takes just a few seconds to check your oil levels. Ensure that your engine is cool before pulling the dipstick clear, then wipe it clean before dipping into the tube. Ensure that the dipstick is fully depressed before pulling clear once more – the oil line should be comfortably between the high and low markings. If the level is a little low, you should add more oil (do this a little at a time and re-test regularly to ensure you don’t overfill the reservoir).
- Coolant – The coolant reservoir is typically located to one side of the engine bay and should be housed in a semi-transparent container. Again, you will find low and high markings on the side of the reservoir and the fluid levels should be somewhere in between. NEVER remove the radiator cap when an engine is still warm – the release of pressure from the coolant system can result in dangerously hot steam and serious burns.

Remember, you don’t need to be a trained mechanic to inspect your vehicle. But if you do find any problems that look suspicious it is always best to consult a technician sooner rather than later. Ignore a problem and allow it to worsen, and it could cost you more in the long run.

Read the second instalment of our car maintenance blog for more handy hints and tips on keeping your vehicle in good working order.

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