No one expects a busy mum to have a pristine vehicle, but there are some basic maintenance tasks that every driver should be aware of and that are easy enough to do, even as you race from the school run to the office to afternoon activities to the supermarket and everywhere in between. Let’s have a quick look at a summer motoring checklist for mums that will help you to take better care of your vehicle.
Keep It Clean
The best way to make sure your car stays in good condition is to keep an eye on it. It can be all too easy to assume that everything is working fine – until you find out the hard way that it is not, when the vehicle breaks down ‘suddenly’. But if you are in the habit of washing your car by hand – with the children’s help, if you can bear the mess and splashing! – is a great way to get up close and personal with the parts of your car that you don’t often see. This will ensure that you can spot any signs of damage – cracks, oil or fuel leaks, scratches – sooner rather than later. And the earlier such damage is picked up, the easier and less costly the repair will be.
Tyre Inspection
Your tyres are one of the most important parts of your vehicle as they are the only part of it in contact with the road – that means if one tyre goes, you are likely to be stuck for quite some time. Check your tyres once a fortnight or so (more often if you drive on poor roads, or for long periods each day) and make sure that they are well-treaded, not showing signs of wear and tear or other damage, and also that they are holding their pressure well. For example, if you are in Yorkshire or London; there are many tyre fitters with good customer reviews. A good recommendation to order your tyres in Castleford is from Reg Greenwood if they have aged out or become damaged – it is the best option for you and your passengers, as well as other road users.
Set Reminders
It can be difficult to remember all the check-ups and appointments that your tyres need, so treat your car like one of the family: diarise services and MOTs, note when tyres will probably need to be replaced, and keep track of how much fuel, oil and even water you are putting into the vehicle. This way, you will quickly pick up if your car starts using more fuel, for example, which can be a sign of extra effort on the part of the engine.
These simple steps don’t take too long to complete, and they will all stand you, and your car, in good stead when it comes to being able to ferry the family about this summer, not matter whether you are staying at home, travelling around the UK, or even daring the ferry to Europe or Ireland.
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