How to look after your car ?

This is a somewhat popular topic where we will tell you things that even instructors already fail to mention to you, but are important. We notice that a lot of latecomers on the road, not for technical reasons, are missing simple things, even like a spare tire, etc, that end up costing more later on. They forget or do not know what is where . It's a moot point whether you take a licence nowadays, buy one or they give you one. But it is a fact that less and less drivers don't know many things.

Taking care of the car is not just down to car wash, vacuuming and wiping. There are much more and more important stages.

Years ago, we were taught to get up earlier in the morning before starting the car and to perform the following manipulations, especially if we were going on a long journey.

Get up early in the morning and open the bonnet, the handle is usually in the driver's seat under the dash on the left:

1. Brake fluid. Usually the cistern on older cars is located, immediately to the driver's side ( left

   

   ), tightly next to the basket, on a strange object for those who do not know, looking a bit like a flying saucer. This is the brake caliper, and on it is the brake fluid reservoir. It has Max ( maximum level ) and Min ( minimum level ) markings on it, normally the normal recommended fluid position is halfway between the two values. It should not be below or at minimum as well as up to maximum. If the level has dropped, top up until you reach the middle.

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2. Water/antifreeze - yes and the car needs fluid to cool it down. As a rule of thumb, it's ok to add antifreeze as it doesn't do internal corrosion to the water system. The nameantifreeze ( anti freeze ) implies what exactly this fluid is used for, it is used for the winter period but everyone recommends to use it all year round just for anti corrosion as I already mentioned. You should know that the higher the concentration, the harder it is to heat up, but once it heats up it expands quite a bit and it is normal to discharge a little at a time until there is a normal amount left for the car depending on the season. BUT, if you don't have that fluid and it's spring, summer or fall, you can add water ( don't forget to replace it before it gets cold, i.e. before winter sets in, because if the temperature drops below 0 degrees, the likelihood of going for an overhaul afterwards is huge. ). Look for the cistern on the right side, usually that is where it is located, the distinctive mark on the cap is like the one in the picture, on old cars and very few new ones it may be metal, and look somewhere to see if it says Engine Coolant. Adding water, just like with brake fluid, halfway between Min and Max. As you fill slowly, you can squeeze the radiator hoses and pump up, that way if there is air, it will bleed off some. P.P.. If you have any idea, you know if the car is overheated I recommend, to put in a little over Min water in the summer season, on most smaller cars, it doesn't really matter. NOTE: If the car has been driven by someone else or started in the morning i.e. has warmed up DO NOT open the cap until it has cooled down!!! You could get hit and the water coming out could burn you badly! Check the temperature if you know these details by giving the CONTACT and if you have a water temperature gauge on the dash, see it is below 80 degrees, if no numbers, well below the middle ( blue area if colored )
   

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3. Wiper fluid - not much philosophy here. You're looking for a canteen with a painted window and a fountain or a wiper sign. On some it may spell WATER FLUID ONLY, which would say "water only". If it's winter, don't put water in because the pot will burst! There are all sorts of detergents with cleaning and glossing properties ( for better rain water run off ), winterizing liquids, etc. You can choose whatever you like, naturally for winter time, don't put water, but winter wiper fluid, it doesn't freeze.
   

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4. Check the oil - This, despite its position, is not last in importance! Firstly I will say that lack of oil or coolant leaks lead to the instant death of any internal combustion engine!... Checking the oil is done by finding something resembling a small lug with a hole going into the engine, somewhere in the side, depends on the car. Usually the so called " oil dipstick" is yellow or red in colour, rarely any other. You can only check the oil when the car is cold / stationary, you can't do it if it has been running or just started because the oil is no longer, in the "sump" ( oil pan ) but all over the engine. MINIMUM, you have to wait 40 minutes or at least an hour for the check to be accurate. This is done by pulling the plug and wiping it off, then putting it back on and being too fast and not too slow pull the plug. The oil level by standard, should also be between minimum and maximum, on some cues it is only marked with a notch on the cue metal itself, then the level should still be between the top and bottom notch n the centre. It's okay to go a little above that, but don't go to the maximum as you could damage your car, knock it out somewhere and leak!                                                                You can see in this image that the oil here is very little, almost to a minimum. You need to top it up, wait 5 minutes and then check the oil level again, which as we said should now be halfway, maybe a little bit on top. That's the one in the bottom picture is the correct oil level.
   

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5. Checking the air level in your tyres - this is a relatively easy task that you can do if you don't have a tyre compressor or pump at a petrol station. Check to see if your tires have dropped, standard tire level for a passenger car is 2.2 atmospheres ( atmospheres is the unit of measurement for the quantity of air ) on front tires and 2,5 on rear tires, for summer period, in winter it is good everywhere 3 atmospheres. If their level has dropped below standard levels, you need to inflate them because your car will not be stable and you may go off the road, on a big turn or sharp manoeuvre, even the tyre may blow out. Most cars today only have an outside tire, with soft tires, they can easily come off the rim in a turn or maneuver and drop abruptly as if you had a flat.

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In winter, keep an eye on your tyre grip, by law it must be no less than 4mm. Winter tyres are fitted from 15 November to 1 March. Be aware of these things, they are not unimportant, if you don't have the means avoid winter travel even with a 4mm grab. In the summer period the tread should be at least 1,6 mm. You can measure the depth with a device called a caliper or another one made for this purpose, but no name, there are them at hardware stores.

Other tips: it's a good idea, and required by law for a lot of things, to have the following in your car: a jack ( so you can change your tyre if you get a flat ), spare tire, wrench, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, reflective vest, reflective triangle, tire pump ( preferably mechanical ), small tool chest just in case, gloves, spotlights, at least 2, spare oil to top off, spare antifreeze or water to top off cooling system, spare fuel.

Via winter period: in addition to all of the above, in winter it will be very useful to have at least two blankets with you, always have chains in your boot for at least the front or rear two tyres ( depending on which drive wheels you have ), a kit is best. Also arm yourself with survival supplies, a spare phone for emergency calls, matches and paper.

If you have any questions you can rely onNaidenovi Auto's knowledgeable technicians will answer any questions you may have regarding the operation of your vehicle and help you solve your problem.

Regularly remind yourself of the road traffic regulations and keep an eye out for new changes.

Wishing everyone a safe and uneventful journey! Spring is coming! Be healthy!

If you need help on the road, seek our services Roadside assistance . Call us and don't worry - +359 878 424 097