Engineering Magazines

Your car may be one of the possessions that you rely on every day; to get to and from work, to collect your weekly grocery shopping or just to visit friends and family. Keeping it in tip-top condition should therefore be high on your priority list so you avoid inconvenient breakdowns or problems.

Keeping your car in check also makes it safer for you and your passengers when you’re out and about. When it comes to selling your car in the future you may also find that a well kept vehicle will sell for a higher price, so there are numerous benefits to carrying out a spot of regular car maintenance.

When it comes to safety you need to make sure your tyre threads aren’t wearing too thin, so periodically check their thickness – there are specific tools you can purchase to help you do this. In Britain it is a legal requirement to have a tyre thread thickness of at least 1.6mm so use this as a guide.

Rotation is another useful tyre maintenance tip. Uneven tyre treads can result in uneven braking and poor handling. To avoid this simply start rotating your tyres; especially on front wheel drive cars where the front tyres wear faster. You should also check your tyres on a weekly basis for any wear, tears or bulges – and don’t forget to include the spare tyre as you never know when you might need it.

Engine oil is another safety essential that needs to be regularly maintained. If you were to run out of engine oil it would probably mean the end of your engine and a very costly bill to pay before your car was back on the road again. Keeping engine oil levels topped up should be one of your main priorities when it comes to car maintenance.

To check the oil level of your car, make sure the car has fully cooled down and always have the engine switched off. Locate the engine oil dipstick, remove it and wipe it clean in order to get an accurate reading. If levels are running low then get yourself to the nearest garage and top-up immediately.

It is also an idea to keep your car as clean as possible – especially during the winter months when salt is used on the roads – to help protect the paintwork. You can invest in all sorts of car cleaning tools from alloy cleaner to wax polish that won’t leave unwanted scratches behind.

What’s more, if you are trying to keep an eye on your budget then parking your car in a garage can protect it from any natural elements that could cause damage, whilst also helping to lower the cost of your car insurance cover at the same time.

As you can see, taking care of your car does not have to be a chore and from doing so there is potentially a lot to be gained.

Rising economic gloom in every industry has made a great impact on the consumers pocket. Talking about auto industry – ‘buying of a new car‘ today has become a dream that would take some time before it comes true. In such a deploring situation, it is better to keep your old car function smoothly. And its true that if you take proper care of your old car, it will deliver more than the desired output. Few important car care tips that would surely take your car in the long run. Just note down these maintenance tips for old car.



Car Maintenance

Most Important – Avoid Rash Driving – Love your vehicle as you love the sophisticated & antique showpieces of your living area. If you drive carefully, you have fair chance of saving your car from any kind of breakdowns.



Go for Routine Maintenance – Its better to spend few dollars every fortnight than to waste thousands of dollars on complete car repair. A closer look at automotive parts and keeping eyes & ears open will help you identify any upcoming problems.

Interior As Well As Exterior Maintenance – One always thinks that it is important to maintain the exterior of vehicle and do not pay attention to the interiors. But friends, you must realize that both the interior and exterior of any vehicle needs equal attention. Ensure that you take care of your car’s interior accessories so that every time you drive, you have a fresh & new feeling.

Brakes As Well As Engine Maintenance – This is one the best way to keep your car functioning properly. Take proper care of your automotive braking system and car’s engine to ensure that your old car doesn’t brake down.

Proper Checks of Automotive Fluids – Keeping a check on the engine fluids or steering fluids always helps. Get the fluids checked after regular interval.



Windshield & Window Glass Maintenance – Obviously, this tip comes under exterior maintenance. But, I guess, it needs special mention. Most of us neglect the windshield or just wipe it off once. Such a cleaning does not even clean the dust & dirt, infact leaves stains.

These were just a few reminders to let your old car function smoothly. Trust me, if you maintain your car, it won’t be necessary to buy a new vehicle when in the midst of economic crisis. Save some money now and you will definitely do so by not spending money on buying a vehicle.

Read 101 Car Maintenance Tips that are easy as well as wont cost you much.

Making sure that your car stays at its optimal level of operation is about having regular maintenance performed on your vehicle. However, there are so many parts that need periodic checkups that it may be difficult to know what to check or change and when. It is helpful, however, simply to look at the various systems that make a car run.

You’re probably pretty familiar with the things you need to do to keep the engine running smoothly, like changing the oil every 3,000 miles or three months. In addition, you should change the oil filter, air filter and fuel filter regularly. Keep an eye on your spark plugs and accompanying wires, as well as the PCV valve.

Most things simply need to be checked regularly because they shouldn’t be breaking down, at least not unless your car is very old. Systems like the transmission and the emission system need a yearly checkup.

Your brake system, however, may need more regular attention. If anything strange appears to be happening with your brakes (you should be able to tell if they don’t “feel” right), then you should have them checked by a professional. For instance, there could be air in the hydraulic system or an imbalance.

The brake pads will also need changing from time to time. You can tell if your brakes begin squealing or grinding, creating metal-on-metal sounds. This system should also be inspected regularly to prevent major breakdowns at inconvenient times, such as when you seem to be careening at a high speed into another vehicle.

A car’s climate control system may actually be working year-round in some areas, so it is important that you have yours inspected regularly, even if you live in a climate where it is not necessary to use the heater or the air conditioner much. While the car’s climate control system works to keep you cool, the cooling system keeps the engine itself cool, which is very, very important to the life of your car. Your engine has a lot of moving metal parts that are difficult to keep cool.

However, car engines are technological wonders, using fans and liquids to keep the engine from catching fire, blowing up, or just heaving a big sigh and quitting. The cooling system is best cared for by checking the coolant levels in the reservoirs and checking the wear and tear on hoses. In addition, ask your mechanic regularly to flush your cooling system to replace the dirty coolant with clean fluid.

The final system to keep an eye on is the suspension system, which is the shocks, springs and struts, as well as the steering and tires. One interesting thing about this system is that your tires can act as a monitor for the rest of the suspension system. For instance, heavy wear on one edge of your tires can signal an alignment problem and the need for maintenance.

Thinking about all the hundreds of parts in your car in terms of systems makes keeping a maintenance schedule much easier. Having a regular maintenance schedule can help prevent the necessity of costly repairs.

Your car might be ranked first or second among your most prized possessions. And with good reason— you paid good money for it. Here are some maintenance tips on how to keep your car in tiptop condition so you can avoid unnecessary breakdowns and expensive repairs.



Regularly changing your car’s engine oil and filter is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running well. Over time, engine    oil breaks down and your filter becomes clogged with contaminants.

Wash your car regularly (at least once a week) and wax it once in a while to keep it shiny and free from corrosion. However, the most important thing to remember when washing your car is to use products that will be able to gently lift away dirt and grime without damaging the underlying surfaces or strip away existing wax or sealant protection.

Always try to use genuine spare parts as replacements. Sure, generic spare parts are a lot cheaper but it’s a better idea to stick to the more reliable originals.

Take good care of your tires: check your tires’ pressure regularly – at least once a month; if your tires are worn, have them re-treaded right away or better yet, replace them; improper alignment causes increased tire wear, and in worst cases, may throw your car into a skid especially on a wet road. Have the alignment checked.

Have your car checked by a mechanic at least once a year — and not just a quick visual inspection by one of the fast lube places. Have a competent mechanic inspect major components of your car such as brakes, suspension, etc. while having your tires rotated. This is important because many vehicle components (ball joints, for example) cannot be inspected visually.



As soon as you feel there is something wrong with your car like any kind of irregular noise or vibration while driving, have it checked soonest. You don’t want a car that’s unsafe to drive. 

For complete information on how to maintain your car, it’s a good idea to refer to your owner’s manual or better yet, pay a visit to your local vehicle repair shop.