Want to reduce your chance of breakdowns and keep your car in good condition for longer? Be prepared to give it the care and attention it needs. From keeping fluid levels topped up to maintaining your tyres, find out how to look after your car with these essential vehicle maintenance tips.
In this guide:
· Topping up engine oil
· Checking other fluid levels
· Looking after your tyres
· Protecting your battery
· Annual servicing
· Buy with confidence with HPI Check®
Learn how and when to top up your engine oil
Your engine needs oil to function safely and effectively. Leaving it to chance won’t help you prevent a car breakdown. Low oil levels leave the internal components without sufficient lubrication, potentially leading to damage and costly repairs down the line. Too much oil can also damage your engine because of pressure issues.
Some new cars have automatic sensors in the engine and an engine oil level warning that will come up on the dashboard. This makes it easier to know when you need to top up – you’ll just need to find the right compartment with ‘oil’ or an oil cap on it.
Most older cars rely on dipsticks under the bonnet. To check your oil level, follow these steps:
1. Park on a flat surface and turn the engine off for at least 15 minutes.
2. Then find the engine oil dipstick, pull it out, wipe it clean and stick it back in.
3. Pull it out again and see where the oil line is compared to the notches on the stick.
4. If it’s between the min and max marks, it’s okay to leave.
5. If it’s below, you’ll need to top up the oil level. If it’s above, you’ll need to find a professional to drain the excess for you.
When topping up, adding a bit at a time and then checking the level once it’s settled should help you avoid overfilling. If you’re unsure about which oil you need, check your owner’s manual.
100% electric vehicles (EVs) don’t need engine oil because they don’t have an engine.
Know how to check other fluid levels under the bonnet
Other fluids are needed to keep your car running as it should. Brake and power steering fluid are best checked by professional mechanics, but windscreen wash and engine coolant are two you can check and top up yourself if necessary.
Again, some modern cars have automatic sensors that alert you when levels become too low. Many older cars will require manual checks.
Find the relevant compartments under the bonnet. The windscreen wash cap is usually quite recognisable with a windscreen symbol and a dotted line through the middle. Look inside the tank and add washer fluid until it reaches the top. Resecure the cap and you’re good to go.
The engine coolant reservoir should be labelled as such and must be checked when the engine is cool. There are usually markings on the side to show the min and max levels. Add more coolant fluid if it’s below the minimum mark, although your car shouldn’t lose coolant normally. If the level has dropped, it’s best to take your car to your nearest garage for inspection.
Keep a close eye on your tyres
Tyres are essential to your safety on the road, so inspect them regularly as part of your wider vehicle maintenance routines.
Check for any signs of cuts, bulges or splits in the rubber. The legal tread limit (the depth of the grooves) is 1.6mm although tyre and safety experts think a 3mm minimum is when tyres should be replaced. There are special tread depth tools you can use or the handy 20p trick.
Keep an eye on your tyre pressure, too. Over or under-inflated tyres impact safety and performance and can make yours wear faster. Modern vehicles usually have automatic sensors to tell you when pressure drops, but you can also tell by looking at the tyres.
If your tyres need inflating, use an air pump at a filling station and top up to the pressure recommended in your vehicle handbook.
Protect your battery
Your car’s battery is used to start the engine and power the electronic systems. Battery issues are some of the most common causes of breakdowns, so you need to look after yours and maintain the charge. The best ways to do that are to:
· Drive your car regularly to keep the battery charged
· Avoid leaving your engine idle for too long
· Don’t leave your lights, radio or other electronic outlets on while the car isn’t running
It’s recommended that car batteries are replaced every 3 to 5 years, although many last longer. Watch out for signs such as your engine struggling to start or warning lights coming on your dashboard – these could signal that the end is near.
Service your car at least once a year
The ultimate vehicle maintenance tip to help prevent a car breakdown is to book a professional service at least once a year. Trained technicians know exactly what to look for and can spot issues before they become more serious.
Many people book a service alongside their MOT to save them separate trips to the garage. Full services cover all aspects of car maintenance, while interim services have fewer points on the checklist but still cover the essentials.
If you aren’t sure which service package your car could benefit the most from, consult your local garage.
Buy or sell with confidence using HPI Check®
Thanks for taking the time to read our guide – we hope you’ve found our essential car maintenance tips useful. While you’re here, we welcome you to check out HPI Check®.
If you find yourself buying or selling a car at any point, our full car history check can help you fill all the gaps and reveal the true history of any vehicle. All you have to do is enter the reg plate and let our tool do the rest.
For more insights into all things car-related, head over to our knowledge hub.
