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5 Car maintenance tips for new drivers

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Did you know that tyres affect mileage?

Over or under-inflated tyres can affect your car’s fuel economy—under-inflated tyres increase your car’s drag which increases fuel consumption, and over-inflated tyres give you a bumpier ride and create uneven tread wear. This is why it’s important to inflate your tyres following the recommended level.

So, how about it? Do you always make sure that you inflate your tyres with just the right amount of air? When you own a car, it becomes your responsibility to ensure that your car is fit for the road. But as a new driver, you may not know much about car maintenance. Here are some tips that you may find useful...

Car maintenance tips for new drivers

1) Always keep a record of your maintenance

You may or may not service your car at the same workshop every time. This is why it’s recommended that you keep a record of your maintenance. When you do this, you can keep track of the parts that have been serviced or changed, and then relay the information to the person servicing your car for preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance saves you a lot of time, money, and future repairs.

2) Never throw away your manual

If you ever find yourself stranded at the side of an empty road, the one thing you wish you’d have with you at the time could just be your car manual. Your car manual is a guideline for your car—you can find the location of the car’s engine, discover special features of your car, learn how to restart your car’s system, and so much more. So, whatever you do, do not throw away the car manual.

3) Don’t cheap out on petrol

We all know that petrol is not cheap in Singapore. But the last thing you’d want to do is to cheap out on it! Car engines are designed to run on a minimum octane or RON number. If you don’t pump as much petrol as needed, you are harming your engine. Similarly, using too much petrol is not good either. You might think you’re fueling your car with more power when you give it more petrol, but if your car’s engine is not designed for higher octane fuels, you’re doing more harm than good.

4) Never skip oil changes

The engine oil is one of the most critical parts of a car. Sometimes when you’re too caught up with work or are too busy with other things, you may forget to change it. Engine oil breaks down over time. To avoid sludge forming in your engine, don’t skip oil changes. If you skip oil changes and let it be for too long, the engine oil will collect dirt, metal, and other particles, preventing your engine from running smoothly.

5) Don’t cheap out on maintenance

Is it wise to compromise quality over price? Some car mechanics are more costly for a reason—they are well trained and are more experienced. If you want to make sure that your car is serviced properly and is returned to you in an optimal condition, you need to spend a few dollars. Trying to save up as much as you can by referring to the cheapest mechanics with no training may just cause more damage to your vehicle.

The best option for you, when faced with car problems, is to consult with a professional. Our technicians are extensively trained and are highly skilled. To be free of worries and get that first-class car maintenance service, send your car to Carfeels. Need more car maintenance tips? Read our previous article here.

Book an appointment with us now! If you have any other topics you would like us to discuss, just let us know!