Knowing some basics about your motor vehicle would go a long way in saving you time and money. Regular maintenance work is needed to keep your vehicle running smoothly, without sudden major breakdowns. For your convenience, we have put together a few commonly asked questions and answers about caring for your car.
- What is the correct tyre pressure for my vehicle? Tyre pressure is determined by the size and weight of the vehicle. A tyre inflation placard Is placed in each vehicle that will give you the proper inflation pressures for your vehicle. The tyre pressure will differ according to the load you carry, and the kind of travelling you do. This placard is located on the driver’s side doorpost or the clove box door.
- How often should I change my wiper blades? It is recommended that the wiper blades should be changed once a year for vehicles parked inside, or when it start streaking. On vehicles kept outside, wiper blades should be changed twice or even three times a year. This is also necessary when wipers need to be used excessively.
- How often should my car get a tune-up? The term, “Tune-up”, applies to older cars, which means replacing of spark plugs, ignition contact points, oil and air filters, adjusting timing belts, etc. This should happen every 10,000 km. For modern vehicles, the term is, “engine performance maintenance” which will include computer diagnosis, testing and adjustment to maintain peak engine performance. Frequency should be between 10,000 – 30,000 kilometres, depending more on driving conditions than kilometres. Your owner’s manual will give you specifics on tune-up frequency.
- Why are my brakes making noise? Hearing a grinding of squealing sound when you use the brake pedal, probably means that you’re vehicle is in need of new brake shoes or pads. It might be something minor, but it is best to assume that noisy brakes are unsafe brakes. You need to get them inspected right away.
- How often should I change the engine oil and filter? Most owner’s manuals and mechanics recommend changing the oil and filter every 3 months or 5,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
taken from https://visual.ly/tread-carefully-safe-tires-equal-safe-family
Remember that good service records are very helpful when the time comes to sell your vehicle.