8 Car Maintenance Tips For Beginners To Save Time and Money!

Posted on: Jan 10, 2022 | | Written by:

8 Car Maintenance Tips For Beginners To Save Time and Money!

Published on January 10, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Buying your first car can be a daunting affair, but it can also provide you that sense of freedom you have been longing for. Whether you are a teen driver who just got a driving license or someone who purchased the first car, there are a few things you need to know about your vehicle’s maintenance. This way, you will never get stranded helplessly on a strange road. From checking tyre pressure regularly to buying comprehensive insurance for financial protection against unforeseen events, here are 8 things you need to keep in mind.

1. Checking tyre pressure and rotation: The first and most basic thing you must know about is how to check tyre pressure. Many new cars come with integrated tyre pressure monitoring systems. This reflects tyre pressure on the multi-function display in the car's instrument panel. You should also buy a tyre pressure gauge for manual checks. It is important to learn how to measure the tread depth of the tyre and rotate your tyres so that they wear in an even manner.

2. Tyre puncture checking and changing the tyre: Even though most modern cars come with tubeless tyres, these still get punctures. It is very important to know how to check if your tyre has a puncture in it, and if possible, fix it yourself. One big advantage of tubeless tyres is that fixing its punctures is usually easy. Besides, if all else fails, you still need to know how to change the tyre, so you can mount the spare wheel.

3. Checking engine oil level: Engine oil is the most important consumable of your vehicle that needs to be replaced as per a schedule given by the vehicle manufacturer. It is what keeps your engine in good running condition and prevents the risk of engine seizure. In fact, it is an integral part of car servicing. Car makers provide instructions about how to measure engine oil levels and how to change it yourself.

4. Changing the air filter of your car: The air filter of your car is another very important part that you must know about. Considering the dusty driving conditions of Indian roads, you must make it a habit to check and clean the air filter of your car on a regular basis. Generally, it just requires you to pop the hood, locate and open the air filter holder, blow some pressurised air to clean it, and put the filter back.

5. Buying car insurance online: Take a break from the age-old trend of buying comprehensive insurance for cars through agents. Go for the online method. If you want to save money on car insurance, get your policy renewed fast and or ensure that your policy comes with all the required add-ons, learn how to buy comprehensive insurance for cars online. Most insurers allow you to follow a few easy steps on their website to do it.

6. Jump starting a car: While car batteries tend to last years, sometimes, you may just get unlucky. If you leave the lights of your car running or if your battery is on its last legs, it might fail to start your car. In such a condition, you will need to know how to jump start a car. Jump starting a car requires you to use jump leads to get current from a different battery and power the starter motor of your car.

7. Checking and changing brake pads: When you regularly use your vehicle, its brake pads tend to wear off. Hence, it is extremely important to know how to identify if the brake pads of your vehicle have started to wear off. Generally, if you hear screeching noises when you press the brake pedal, it is time for you to check the brake pads. It is best to change the pads once the screeching starts because it might lead to a risk of disk wear if not changed in time.

8. Checking and changing spark plugs: With time, grime and dirt as well as carbons deposits begin to show up on your spark plugs. This can lead to loss of performance, which first kills the fuel efficiency of the vehicle and gradually kills the spark plugs completely, making it impossible to start your car. It is best to clean your spark plugs regularly.

All in all, remember that the regular maintenance of your car can save you a lot of money you would have otherwise paid to get it fixed in the market. Further, non-maintenance can lead to mechanical and electrical breakdowns that are not covered under comprehensive insurance. Thus, learning how to inspect and fix basic problems can save you a lot of time and money.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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