Author: lisabackup

The importance of your car’s tyre pressure

Incorrect car inflation levels

Firstly having your tyres under or overinflated are both dangerous so don’t just ensure your tyre is blown up because too much pressure is also a bad thing.⁣⁠

Having an incorrect pressure level within your tyre can actually make handling your car more difficult. This makes accidents a lot more likely.⁣⁠

The risks of under-inflation:

Under-inflation increases the chance of your car’s tyre blowing out. It is actually the number one cause of tyre blowouts, which is when your tyre basically blows up.⁣⁠

The risks of over-inflation:

Over-inflation makes your car more likely to be penetrated or damaged by contact with foreign objects. ⁣⁠

Ways to ensure your car’s tyre pressure is correct

If you want to ensure that your car’s tyre pressure is correct you can do it at any garage and ask the petrol attendants to show you.

If you need to find the correct pressure for your tyres there should be a table that shows you. This can be found either on the inside of your driver’s door or on the flap that covers your petrol cap. Alternatively, you can always find the correct tyre pressure online. ⁣⁠

Most people who have owned a car know that it is important to check their car’s oil regularly, yet despite knowing that they should do it, they don’t do it correctly.⁣

What does everyone do wrong with oil checks?

Mistake 1: They do not know how to check their oil

The first mistake is not knowing how to check your own oil. When it comes to your car, relying on someone you don’t know is dangerous. Most people just ask petrol attendants to check their oil but they can make mistakes or they may just be eager to sell you oil when you don’t even need it. Therefore learn how to check your oil yourself.⁣

Mistake 2: They check their oil when their car is warm

Having petrol attendants check your oil goes into our second problem that your car shouldn’t have been on or warm when you check your oil. If the oil is warm and has been circulating in the engine you are much more likely to get a false reading. Also if the oil is hot and messes on you it could really burn you badly. Therefore, the best time to test your oil is at home in the morning before you have driven anywhere.

Mistake 3: They check their oil on uneven ground⁣

The final tip (which will sound obvious in retrospect) is to always check your oil level on the flat ground, because if the car is at an angle you will get an inaccurate reading, with the oil level reading either higher or lower than it really is. ⁣

If you follow these simple tips you will be able to check your oil and ensure your car keeps running smoothly.⁣

If you are driving and it feels like your steering wheel is pulling to one side, effectively trying to have your car drive off the road then this is what you should do.

What to do if your car is pulling to the side

Ensure that the weather is suitable

Firstly, have a look around you and make sure it isn’t a windy day. Heavy winds can cause your car to pull unnaturally in one direction and going through to a professional and having your car examined due to the weather should be avoided. ⁣⁠

Examine your tyre pressure

If the wind isn’t the cause then the first thing you can do is ensure your car’s tyre pressure is correct as this can result in your car pulling in either direction. After ensuring this is correct, test it. Is your car still pulling? If yes then it’s time to seek the help of a professional. ⁣⁠

Pay attention to wheel alignment

The most common cause of your car pulling to one side is the wheel alignment. This is when your wheels and your axles are not properly aligned. This will generally resolve the issue but if it persists it could be a suspension or braking problem. At this stage, you will have to have the vehicle examined by a mechanic.

Let’s take a look at some of the checks you can do on various components of your car to ensure that your car passes it’s roadworthy test!⁣

Important checks to pass your car’s roadworthy test:

Widows and wipers:

Your windows need to be free of cracks and be able to open. The windscreen wipers need to work and not be worn out. ⁣

Lights and indicators:

All your lights and indicators need to be working. Settings that adjust the lights such as your brights and height adjustments need to be working as well.⁣

Tyres:

All tyres need to be the correct size and they need to have sufficient treads. Just a reminder this includes the spare tyre. The wheel alignment must also be correct.⁣

Car’s exterior:

The outside of the car should not be heavily damaged, this includes being free of rust. The doors and boot should also be able to open.⁣

Brakes, suspension, engine:

These parts all need to work correctly and cannot be damaged. However, it would be difficult for someone who does not work with cars to be able to examine these. This should be fine if you have gone for regular services but if you are unsure consider getting your mechanic to have a look.⁣

Other:

The car’s seat belts must be able to clip in, the speedometer and other internal instruments must give correct readings. The hooter should work, and the doors should be able to open from the inside.

A lot of people don’t really know how to adjust their car’s seat and mirrors to suit them. Yet this is actually a serious issue as incorrect positioning can cause you to strain muscles, damage your car and even heavily impede your safety on the road.⁣

Always start with your car seat

This may seem obvious but the first place to begin your adjustments is with the positioning of your car seat, because everything else such as your mirror adjustments will change based on where you position your seat.⁣

In terms of distance from your steering wheel you should be able to sit upright in the driver seat and after extending your arms rest both your wrists on top of the steering wheel. This means when you hold your steering wheel at the 10 and 2 positions that your arms are slightly bent.⁣

Using your legs and steering wheel as a guide

Another way to check if you are in the correct position is by looking at your legs. If you are too far away from the steering wheel then you will find that you have to move forward in your seat to push the pedals completely flat. If you are too close to the steering wheel your legs may end up hitting it when you move your feet onto and between pedals. Being too close also results in people unintentionally riding their clutch.⁣

Follow those two guidelines to make sure that you are positioned correctly in the driver’s seat. If your arms are telling you that you are too far but your legs are too close then try adjusting the height of your seat or the steering wheel if your car allows for it⁣.