AN expert mechanic has shared five little-known checks new drivers must remember to avoid hefty repair bills.
Craig, who works at Walsall Wood Tyre & Service in the West Midlands, urged motorists to “listen up” as he revealed the vital maintenance jobs on TikTok.
TikTok/@walsallwood_tyreExpert mechanic Craig urged drivers to keep an eye on their fluid levels[/caption]
Craig said: “It’s probably a good rule of thumb to check your fluid levels once a month.
“A few people will say once a week but not many people are doing the kind of mileage to justify that these days.
“Once a month would be more than enough.”
This means keeping on top of your main four fluids: engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and coolant.
All of these can be easily checked, usually just by looking at the relevant tanks in the engine bay.
Many modern cars colour code fluid inlets so you can top up without getting them mixed up.
Make sure that you check the levels regularly and top them up if they begin to drop a little low.
And keep an eye out for rapid, unexpected drops in fluid levels as this can be a sign of other issues.
Likewise, the fluids need to be changed at regular intervals, which can be found in your owner’s manual.
Failing to keep fluid levels up can have extremely costly consequences.
For example, if you let your engine oil run too low, your engine could seize due to lack of lubrication.
Once this happens, it’s almost impossible to un-seize it and a full engine replacement is usually required, which can cost over £1,000.
Likewise, transmission replacement can run into many hundreds of pounds, while failing to maintain your brake fluid levels could put you at risk of deadly crashes.
Another key fluid which could save you valuable time on chilly mornings is your screenwash.
Make sure to fill it up regularly and get a good mix of antifreeze so you don’t have to spend half an hour going at your windscreen with your scraper before work.
Finally, Craig recommended frequent tyre pressure checks to make sure you aren’t carrying any punctures.
Replacing a tyre for about £70 is much easier and cheaper than swapping out a damaged wheel which has been left exposed by a flat tyre.
It comes after a car dealer revealed three hidden features inside his VW, including a quick seat warmer hack.