basic car checks | practical guides for girls

Important basic checks include tyres, water top up and oil levels (assuming your car lets you do all these things for it - some cars demand to be taken to a garage for specialist oil changes) – these are all fairly straight forward maintenance checks that even the laziest girl can do.

Of course, many women are as good as, if not much better than, men in this area. However, we aware that many of you also claim not to know how to open the bonnet and rely on someone else doing this for them (if only because standing in the cold and rain, getting grease all over your hands isn't your idea of fun)...

You may fall into a third and probably the most advisable category to be in; she who does her best when she remembers but visits an OFT approved garage on a quarterly basis so the professionals can check that she's done this properly. (Your FOXY garage should charge you nothing for this and add a regular emissions test, check your lights and brake fluid, air conditioning system and antifreeze levels at the right time of the year. Giving you untold peace of mind and the smug satisfaction of knowing you are doing what you know you should to be a safer and "greener" motorist!)

If you do prefer to do any maintenance checks yourself, always start by reading the handbook.

Water level

The water top up is easy and equally as important as your tyres and oil levels. You don't want your windscreen washer water running out when speeding along a wet and dirty motorway…

Oil

When it comes to your car's oil, you need to be more careful. Not any oil will do and there is a bewildering choice of different sorts and unfamiliar brands.

Start by reading the handbook, and check that your car doesn't demand to be taken to a professional for an oil change.
Always park on a flat surface and wait for a while after switching the engine off to allow the oil to settle before checking its level.
Check the oil level on the dipstick – Remove it first from the hold and clean it with an old tissue, then replace it fully for a moment and remove again to get a correct reading of the level.
If it needs topping up be careful that you never overfill.

Where in doubt ask a garage professional...

Tyres

The condition of your tyres is absolutely critical to your safety and can cost you dearly in financial terms. Check these regularly, if you neglect them, you'll need new ones sooner and they are very expensive (and not always recycled so can end up in landfill...). For example, if you "use" the kerb to "help" you parking, the wall of your tyres may get damaged. To avoid excessive wear and tear have them checked by a professional regularly. Get them changed around to spread anywear or tear and have the tracking of your tyres checked if you find the steering isn't all it might be.

NB: When you check your tyre pressures, remember to do the spare as well and keep this correctly inflated, just in case.

If you turn a blind eye to the condition of your tyres you could be fined up to £2500 per illegal tyre AND get 3 penalty points each. Yes, EACH tyre.

Tyre tread needs to be a min of 1.6mm across three quarters of the breadth and the whole circumference of the tyre. Helpful gadgets exist to check your tyres' tread and their pressure. You can get these in most motor accessory stores; given a choice, FOXY favours the Draper tyre gauge and brand.

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Basic car checks for even the laziest girl

Water level

Oil

Tyres

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