How often do you do 'routine checks'?
Discussion
As in oil, tyre pressures, water, general walk around and check of tyre depth etc? I do all the above each week and always have done. However after talking to a lot of work colleagues who have owned their cars for a year plus and have never done ANY of the above it got me thinking. How many engine problems could have been avoided, how many cars running incorrect tyre pressures etc?
Surely you don't have to be a petrolhead to do these things??
Surely you don't have to be a petrolhead to do these things??
I walk round the car checking tyre visually that they are not flat before every drive.
Check all fluids at the weekend (I use screen wash once a week)
Check all lights weekly.
Check tread depth every month
Takes no time at all to do and really is a safety first approach.
Also by doing this you can tell wear rates of tyres and guesstimate when they will need changing so prepare for that cost when it comes along.
If its using oil or coolant then there could be a leak in pipes or much more serious so keeping an eye on rare of usage will suddenly highlight any sudden changes.
Check all fluids at the weekend (I use screen wash once a week)
Check all lights weekly.
Check tread depth every month
Takes no time at all to do and really is a safety first approach.
Also by doing this you can tell wear rates of tyres and guesstimate when they will need changing so prepare for that cost when it comes along.
If its using oil or coolant then there could be a leak in pipes or much more serious so keeping an eye on rare of usage will suddenly highlight any sudden changes.
ohtari said:
Fluids, bi-weekly at a guess. Tyres, not often enough it appears, after getting 4 new'uns fitted in may, I didn't check the pressures till last week. 3 at 30psi from 34, one down to 18! 
You should hae noticed fuel economy decreasing and also te handling getting "wallows or loose" or it could feel like its team lining far worse than it used to. One thing though since Ive had NO2 inflated tyres they only drop once a year.... When its from freezing to hot /spring or the other way round. Still if you don't check you waste cash on fuel it will be slower have poor handling longer stopping distance and higher tyre wear so more wasted money.
Note I get 45k ish out of my tyres pilot sport 3's. ... I run very hard tyres
Pretty much check the tyres visually everytime I drive it and check the pressures probably monthly.
Other things, I probably check either weekly or fortnightly.
I don't have a strict routine of when I check. More just a every so often thing, where I think, "I haven't looked under the bonnet for a week or two so I'll have a quick look before I set off", kind of thing.
Other things, I probably check either weekly or fortnightly.
I don't have a strict routine of when I check. More just a every so often thing, where I think, "I haven't looked under the bonnet for a week or two so I'll have a quick look before I set off", kind of thing.
Luke. said:
Welshbeef said:
I've just got my wife to check the following on each drive
1. Walk round car to see if any tyre is flat
2. Keep an eye on engine temp should be under two miles to get to 90 degrees then it should stay there if it drops suddenly etc
She's a lucky woman.1. Walk round car to see if any tyre is flat
2. Keep an eye on engine temp should be under two miles to get to 90 degrees then it should stay there if it drops suddenly etc
I'm the lucky man BTW...Welshbeef said:
ohtari said:
Fluids, bi-weekly at a guess. Tyres, not often enough it appears, after getting 4 new'uns fitted in may, I didn't check the pressures till last week. 3 at 30psi from 34, one down to 18!
You should hae noticed fuel economy decreasing and also te handling getting "wallows or loose" or it could feel like its team lining far worse than it used to. One thing though since Ive had NO2 inflated tyres they only drop once a year.... When its from freezing to hot /spring or the other way round. Still if you don't check you waste cash on fuel it will be slower have poor handling longer stopping distance and higher tyre wear so more wasted money.
Note I get 45k ish out of my tyres pilot sport 3's. ... I run very hard tyres
I check my tyre pressure every couple of weeks; otherwise rarely check fluid levels.
Funniest was when I owned an RX8 for a few months. Upon selling the car it was first viewed by a Mazda RX-car 'enthusiast' who checked the dipstick and it was covered with thick yellow gunge! Needless to say he was not impressed by my car maintenance skills...
Funniest was when I owned an RX8 for a few months. Upon selling the car it was first viewed by a Mazda RX-car 'enthusiast' who checked the dipstick and it was covered with thick yellow gunge! Needless to say he was not impressed by my car maintenance skills...
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