- Car maintenance checklist
- Check your car’s engine oil
- Check other car fluids
- Check air and cabin filters
- FAQs
Regular maintenance can help you keep your car in perfect shape. While different components and parts will need replacement from time to time, regular checks can cut down the number of visits to the repair shop. You can extend your car’s useful life and save time and money on avoidable repairs. The good thing is, regular car maintenance isn’t as tough or time-consuming as we often assume. All you need to do is keep proper car maintenance checklist and adhere to it. Quite literally, your car’s life depends on it.
To make the task easier, we bring you a complete car maintenance checklist to follow.
Car Maintenance Checklist
Some of the tasks on this list need weekly attention while others might only need monthly checks. Create a schedule according to your vehicle’s condition and requirement.
1. Check Engine Oil
Checking your car’s engine oil regularly is essential for its maintenance. Engine oil makes your engine run smoothly and also prevents internal parts from wearing out too quickly. You can check a car’s engine oil level with a dipstick or an electronic gauge available for newer models. Ideally, engine oil must be translucent and smooth in texture. If it is too murky or dark, it is time to change your engine oil.
2. Check Other Fluids
There are other car fluids besides the engine lubricant, and all of them are crucial for your vehicle’s performance. For starters, check your washer fluid. It runs out quickly but refilling it is quite simple. Also check other essential fluids in the car, including engine coolant, brake fluid and steering fluid. You can easily check the fluid levels with the dipstick or gauge, depending on your vehicle. These fluids must be checked on a weekly basis.
3. Check Car Battery
Car batteries are the lifeline of your vehicle. Generally, you can quickly start your car in one go – but with a weak battery, the start isn’t as smooth as it should be. This usually means your battery is going bad and needs a service or a replacement. Moreover, in a country like the UAE, where the temperature gets really high, car batteries and other parts do not last for too long – especially when they aren’t maintained regularly. Here is a detailed blog on checking car battery performance.
4. Keep a Check on Tires
Keeping a check on your vehicle’s tire pressure is always important. You can simply walk around the vehicle to check for visible punctures or leaks. Look for worn-out treads or blisters on the tire as they indicate when the tire needs replacement. You can also use a tire pressure gauge to make sure the air inside the tires is sufficient. Similarly, you need to keep an eye on overinflated tires as they can be disastrous in summer.
5. Check Air and Cabin Filters
When it comes to car maintenance, air and cabin filters are two key filters that should never be ignored. The air filter plays an essential role in preventing debris, dust particles, other contaminants from getting into the engine. These pollutants usually get in through a vehicle’s HVAC system.
To inspect an air filter, raise it towards the light. If the light doesn’t visibly pass through the filter, it means the engine air filter has to be changed. For cabin filter, turn on your car’s AC or heater. If you feel an odd smell in the cabin, it means the cabin filters need to be changed.
6. Check Spark Plugs
Checking spark plugs is an important part of vehicle maintenance. Your car would not start without working spark plugs, and a dirty spark plug will impact your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Generally, you will have to replace them when they get rusty or dark in colour, but regular cleaning will extend their useful life. When choosing between iridium and platinum spark plugs, it is better to go with the one with a longer lifespan such as iridium spark plugs which can complete 8,000 km without an issue.
7. Check Timing Belt
Checking the timing belt is also an important part of vehicle maintenance. If the timing belt is making a lot of noise, it is time to replace it, and the same goes for serpentine belts. However, these aren’t easy to self-repair. Take your car to the nearby mechanic and get it fixed before it’s too late.
8. Clean Your Car
Going for an automatic or manual car wash is entirely up to the driver – but cleaning the car inside out is what matters. Vehicle maintenance cannot be complete without washing and cleaning the car properly. In the UAE, people caught driving dirty cars are first warned by the authorities but if they continue driving around a dirty vehicle three days after receiving the warning it gets impounded. Car drivers have to face a penalty of AED 1500 to get their car’s back.
Now you have the essential car maintenance checklist ready. Without these checks, you can risk reducing your car’s life and hinder its performance. As a result, you may face a higher repair cost and lower car value in the long run. Besides, if you are in search of another car but are short on budget, here is a wide range of quality used cars to choose from:
- Used cars in Dubai
- Second-hand cars in Abu Dhabi
- Used autos in Ajman
- Second-hand vehicles in Sharjah
- Used vehicles in Ras al Khaimah
- Used cars in Umm al Quwain
- Second-hand cars in Fujairah
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top car blog for more car care and maintenance tips.
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