Many people rely heavily on their cars and would be lost without them. Despite this, many car owners do not know how to look after their vehicle properly and keep it in the best condition. This could lead to issues that take the car off the road and are expensive to fix. With this in mind, here are some of the main things that every car owner should know.
Tyre Pressure
It is vital that you keep your tyres inflated at the recommended pressure for optimal performance, including better fuel efficiency (meaning lower costs). You can get a small device that allows you to test your pressure and a kit that allows you to inflate your tyres at home.
What’s in the Handbook
The vehicle handbook might not be the most exciting thing you ever read, but it is packed with useful information that will help you keep your car in the best condition. The handbook can teach you what all of the indicators mean on the dashboard, the recommended service schedule, how to check fluids, and much more. If you ever buy a used Citroen car, make sure that it comes with the owner’s manual, as you are sure to need it.
Maintenance Schedule
There are many basic maintenance tasks that you can do yourself, including topping up fluids, checking the tread depth, and replacing the air filter. There will also be a service schedule that you must stick to – this will involve a professional checking over the vehicle and performing various tasks to keep the car in the best possible condition. Additionally, you will need to get an annual MOT to keep the car on the road.
How to Read a Dipstick
It is vital that you maintain healthy oil levels to prevent serious engine problems. This is a quick and easy check with the use of a dipstick, but it is something that many car owners do not bother with. You simply insert the dipstick all the way into the tube and then remove it – the reading should be between full and low.
How to Jump-Start Your Car
You never want to find yourself stranded on the side of the road, but this can happen, and often it is as a result of battery issues. Often, you can get back on the road by jumpstarting the car. To jump-start your car, you will need to connect the positive cable to the positive battery terminal and the other end to the positive terminal of a working battery. You then connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of a working battery and the other end to an unpainted metal surface on the engine block of your car. You then simply start the working car to charge the dead battery.
Hopefully, this information will be useful and help you to keep your car in the best condition.
