Maintenance "Musts"

The best way to keep your vehicle healthy is to keep it clean and lubricated. Maintenance "musts" include changing filters and oil on a regular basis. These basics are the most important part of any maintenance regime and they're also relatively inexpensive. If you do these things regularly, you can help maximize your vehicle's life.

Important filters include:

• oil filter
• air filter
• fuel filter
• automatic transmission fluid filter
• PCV/Breathers
• cabin air filters

Most vehicle manuals recommend that you service your vehicle more frequently if you drive in "severe" conditions. Most drivers are surprised at what counts for severe driving. In fact, for most drivers, "normal" driving habits are actually "severe"!

"Severe" driving conditions include one or more of the following:

• driving in stop and go traffic
• driving in extremely hot or cold temperatures
• driving at prolonged higher engine speeds
• taking multiple trips averaging 5 to 10 miles in length
• frequent cold start-ups and shut downs
• extensive engine idling
• towing and/or hauling heavy loads
• driving in dusty or muddy conditions
• driving in mountainous terrain

Protect your car with proper maintenance to counteract the effects of severe driving.

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Car won't Start Since the battery is crucial to starting your vehicle, a dead or weak battery means your vehicle won't start.

What Size Tyres? When it comes to your tyres, size does matter. So be sure to buy the tyre size recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual.

Winterisation Tips Keep the Juices Flowing. Replace vital fluids such as motor oil, differential fluid and transmission fluid according to the vehicle manufacturers' time and mileage recommendations.

Oil: Synthetic vs. Regular Synthetics are "pure" oils designed to excel at extreme temperatures. Regular oils are mineral-based: they come from crude oil that is taken out of the ground and run through a refinery.

Detecting Trouble Digitally Think you have to wait for a luxury car to have an onboard computer? Think again. Most vehicles today use an onboard computer to monitor and manage several of your vehicle's operating systems.

Viscosity Simplified You see those cryptic combinations of letters and numbers on oil bottles everywhere. What do they mean?

Knock, Knock. Wrong Octane! Octane. You sometimes see the word when you visit the petrol station but what does it mean?

What Does Oil Do Anyway? Oil keeps everything lubricated, cool and clean — which is why it gets dirty.

Shedding Light on Halogen Most new-model vehicles have halogen headlights because they produce more light than a regular bulb.

A Breath of Fresh Air for Your Vehicle This simple barrier of accordion-folded paper may look insignificant but it's responsible for providing clean air to your vehicle's cylinders.

Oil and Filter: Time For a Change To keep your oil clean and your engine healthy, a good rule of thumb is to change your oil and filter every 6-12 months or 6-12,000 miles

Tyre Tactics Under- or over-inflation of tyres can: Cause uneven tread wear, weaken your tires, reduce traction, impact fuel economy,reduce the number of miles you get out of your tyres.

Maintenance "Musts" The best way to keep your vehicle healthy is to keep it clean and lubricated. Maintenance "musts" include changing filters and oil on a regular basis.

Hit The Road Safely Planning a road trip? Here is a checklist you should complete to help keep your car healthy and you off the side of the road:

Summertime Heater Maintenance During the summer, be sure to crank up the heat. Once a month, try to turn on your heater for 1-2 minutes to let fluid circulate.

The Dirt on Silicon Silicon, an abrasive element found in sand and dirt, can cause a great deal of damage to car engines.

Caught Overheating? If you find your temperature gauge creeping into the red, turn on your heater. Sound crazy? It can work.

Jump Starting? Start With This First When jump-starting a dead battery, be sure to wear proper eye protection before you start.

Clogged Fuel Injector or Filter: The Warning Signs Your engine runs on a delicate balance of fuel and air. Dirt, sand and other impurities can clog your fuel filter and starve your fuel injectors.

Fan Belt Loose? Listen to this! Listen for a high-pitched "screeching" sound while the engine is idling and/or on acceleration.

Increase Fuel Economy Choose the right octane. Keep tyres inflated to proper levels. Don't drive at high speeds. Change your air filter. Have your fuel system professionally cleaned.

Defrost Quickly To defrost your windows more quickly, turn on the air conditioner and keep your temperature gauge turned to warm.