5 Things Women Should Know About Their Car

There are at least five (5) general things that women should know and check on their vehicles, before driving and before a problem arrived.

To women, “car matters” are not interesting things especially because their reason is certainly they are uncomfortable to taint their hands, and the bigger reason is lack of knowledge of car maintenance. All are handed over to the men although some of the things are also not known by men.

So what are the five things? Here they are:

1. Fuel (Petrol / Diesel / NGV)A fuel nozzle.

This is the basic point, needless to think. Even those people who do not own a car knew that fuel must be filled for the car to move. But believe me; I know lots of women who never filled the oil into their own tank and even do not know how. My own friend’s wife, according to him, for more than 10 years, he filled the oil full into his wife’s car tank one day before working day started for her use and one week of work. That what happens every week.

Many private vehicles in my country (Malaysia) use petrol but there are also that use diesel and NGV. Make sure of the right fuel. And make sure that you identify the right fuel pump machine at service station.

Remember, it is important that you know how to open the tank cover and pump the oil into it. May be your one day you are forced to pour oil by your own. Don’t let your car runs out of gas in the middle of the street.

2. Water in Radiator Tank

Opened hood of a car, showing the radiator of the car.Open your car hood. Usually hoist switch (hood opener) is under the dashboard on the driver side.

Check before car is started, if not you will scald your hand. Make sure there is enough water. Otherwise, just add tap water.

If you often send car for services, radiator water checking is a basic thing that must be done. Nevertheless, you also have to know to check it on your own; in case there is leakage which caused the water level in radiator to be inadequate. So it is good to check the radiator water at least once a week.

3. Engine Oil, Transmission Oil and Brake Oil

Checking an engine oil level of a car.These are vital. Without enough engine oil, engine may become hot and this will damage the engine. Not enough transmission oil may result an immovable car and not enough brake oil may endanger your life because the vehicle cannot be stopped.

For a quite aged car, make sure you check with more often. Even though you may have sent the vehicle for services in each 3 month or each 5,000 km, do not wait up to you new service time and hope the mechanic to check. At least you must know either its oil is enough or not. Engine oil, transmission oil or brake oil that runs out or ebb quite suddenly may signify there are leaks. This are reasons that such examinations are important, and this would be vital for your own safety.

4. Tyre

A car tyre.You know how to change a tyre? Even though you may not need to change a tyre on your own because you have a car service card or you have a husband who will always helps you or friends who could help, it is good if you yourself know how to change a tyre.

Also make sure the right tyre pressure for your car tyres. Learn how to check tyre pressure and how to pump tyre when necessary.

Knowing basic matters on car as such can make a woman feels more confident and safer when driving.

5. Insurance and Road Tax

Cars on road.Before setting forth for your destination make sure your car insurance and your road tax still valid and legal. Look on your windscreen, does your road is tax still not yet ended? In case it already almost to expire; you can start your insurance renewal and your road tax renewal process. Road tax is renewable as early as two month before its expiry date.

Insurance and road tax are compulsory to enable a vehicle is validly used on road. The matter is only done once a year. Some peoples took leave solely to manage road tax and insurance renewal. Get new insurance from the insurance company, and then go to bank to pay road tax and in the evening go again to bank to collect back the road tax which has been completed.

Now everything you can hand on to insurance company on their website to deal. It is really easy, insurance and road tax can be done at once. Usually within only two working days, road tax already arrived to hand, either in office or at home. No need trouble yourself anymore.

29-03-2009 by Sorli

category: Auto Things

Check The Brake Every 6 Months

Vehicle’s braking system check and care is among the important routine should be done by vehicle owners to avoid any disaster when driving.

Follow these guides as your reference:

  • Once a month check your car brake oil level. Make sure its oil is between the minimum and maximum level. Do not drive if brake oil level is under minimum level.
  • Each six months when you want to change your car tyres don’t forget to check the brake lining. Make sure the gripping layer is still thick.In case you found that the brake liners do not have same thickness between left and right side, ask your mechanic to check brake oil pipeline system or brake pressure system.

    Possibly the pressure imposed on both brakes are unequal and this is dangerous to driving, especially when braking in high speed. Same thing should be done to brake drum.

  • If you like to drive aggressively and fast, change the car brake liner to the one that could withstand high heat.Make sure to change your brake oil pipeline system to a better one. This is to ensure that the car brake system can function in high pressure, high temperature and get quicker reaction when the pedal is pressed.

    Brake oil mistake could cause the entire brake system to suffer damage, especially when liner is made from rubber.

  • If there are scratches at drum disk, ask a mechanic to assess whether it still usable or not. If changing brake lining is proposed grind the disk back or change to a better drum. Scratches can deter brake lining grip on disk or drum.
  • A usual damage is a jammed brake. This happened because brake lining does not return to its position when we disengage brake that grips the disk. Caliper damage which controls brake lining.
  • If there are brake oil discharge spots at any part, ask mechanic to check it. Do not take this matter easily is because small leak can become big when braking because of the applied pressure to it.
  • For car with automatic transmission, front brake liner is quicker to wear compares to back liner (usually twice faster).
  • If you want to modify a car braking system be sure to get written truth by the authority because it is wrong and company insurance will not protect you if any accident happened. It is because you change your brake system without authorization from the authority.
  • While driving evade from placing foot on brake pedal. This can save the brake liner usage.
  • When moving down a steep hill do not use brake, instead use low gear to control your car speed.
  • When adding brake oil, make sure its specification is right. Dot 3 for common use of car which have front disk and back drum. Dot 4 for car that have four wheel disk system and high-powered car.
28-12-2008 by Sorli

category: Auto Things