Did you know that most breakdowns and costly repairs to cars are avoidable? All it takes it a little TLC for your car. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from most breakdowns.

The main areas that need to be checked to keep your car in tip top condition are:

Fuel, Tyres, Brakes, Oil and Water.

Tyres – To keep your tyres performing you need to check the tread and pressures. The tread of a tyre is the pattern cut into the tyre designed to displace water and grip the road. By law the tread on each tyre must be at least 1.6 millimetres deep. The easiest and cheapest way to check your tyres have enough tread is to use a 10 pence coin. Put the coin into the tread, the edge of the coin should be covered. If it isn’t you must buy new tyre/ tyres, failure to do so can result in 3 point on your licence and a fine for each tyre. So if all 4 tyres are running low on tread you could have 12 point and 4 fines.

You can check your tyre pressures at most petrol stations, or you can buy a tyre pressure gauge. Each car will need different pressures, due to size and weight. You can check what the pressures should be in your tyres by checking your vehicle handbook.

Fuel - Never let your fuel run low! I know it’s easier said than done and everyone pushes their luck sometimes, but if your petrol is running low it’s cheaper to put another £10 of fuel in your car than pay for a recovery firm to come and pick you up from the side of the road. Before you go on long journeys make sure you know where fuel stations are along the way.

One of the most common fuel problems is people putting the wrong fuel in their car. Putting petrol in a diesel or vice versa can not only cause you to breakdown it can also cause permanent damage to your engine. If you struggle to remember what fuel goes in your car, try sticking a label on the fuel cap so you see it every time you fill up.

Brakes - The 2 main things you must be aware of with brakes are performance and condition. If you find you have to push you brake pedal further to make them work, it’s probably time to change your brake pads, as they are probably running low.

Your brake pads must have at least a quarter of an inch of the pad in order for them to work effectively. If they are any lower than this you must have them replaced, as they will start to underperform. If when you apply the brake pedal they screech this is also an indicator that the pads are running low.

Your brake discs will also need replacing from time to time. They should be shiny all over with no chips or cracks. It is normal to see slight scratches, but patches of rust or dents mean the disc will not work efficiently.   It is advised to replace brake discs in pairs to ensure even breaking on all wheels.

Oil - Oil is essential to keep your car running. If the oil in your car runs low it can cause friction in the engine which can cause it to overheat, resulting in serious engine problems. You can check how much oil you have by using the dipstick. Pull it out of the engine and wipe it clean, and put it back in. Then remove it again and check that the level doesn’t go below the minimum mark. Some dipsticks will have 2 marks on them, this is a maximum and minimum level, so anywhere inbetween these marks is fine.

Water – On your water tank there will be a maximum and minimum level mark. Keep it topped up to just underneath the maximum level to prevent your car from overheating. Whilst you’re checking your water levels also look at the pipes in your engine, any old leaking pipes must be replaced.

The best way to ensure your car runs at its best is to have regular checks as above. And book in for a service once a year.

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