Basic Car Maintenance for New Drivers- Part One

Buying your first car is one of the proudest moments of your life, but if you want to keep that car running, it’s going to need maintenance.

In this article, we’ll be looking at simple, easy to understand, car maintenance for beginner drivers.

Checking Your Tires

Poorly inflated or damaged tires are one of the most common maintenance problems encountered by drivers. It is hugely important to check your tires on a regular basis, looking for wear, cracking, bulging, pressure, or objects caught in the tread.

Tire pressure is also important. Low tire pressure will increase your car’s fuel consumption, shorten the life of the tire, and increase the risk of tire failure. High tire pressure will cause diminished grip, reduce stability in braking and cornering, and increase the risk of impact tire damage.

The correct tire pressure for your particular car will be listed in the owner’s manual. Check your tire pressure, including the spare tire, once a week. It’s best to do this when the tires are cold, which means you driven no more than two miles.

Checking Your Engine Oil

Your engine oil lubricates, cleans, and cools your car’s engine, so if the oil levels drop too low, you run the risk of significant mechanical damage to your car. You should check the engine oil level at least once a fortnight and top up as required.

Do not overfill your engine with oil as this can create excess pressure that could damage the engine seals and gaskets, and cause oil leaks.

To check your oil, take the following steps:

• Make sure your engine is cold and your car is parked on level ground.
• Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a cloth. Reinsert it fully, pull it out again and check that the oil mark is between the “F” and “L” marks.
• If the oil is below the “L” mark then you will need to add more oil. 
• To add more oil, find the oil filler cap, usually found on the top of the engine and marked ‘oil’. Unscrew this and place it to one side.
• Pour in a small amount of new oil and recheck the level with the dipstick. If needed repeat until you have the correct oil level.

Checking Your Engine Coolant

As with your engine oil, engine coolant is vital to the day-to-day function of your engine, and not keeping it topped up can lead to serious mechanical problems. A mixture of water and anti-freeze, engine coolant helps remove excess heat from your car’s engine.

You should check your coolant levels once a fortnight and the process goes like this:

• Locate the engine coolant reservoir. Your user’s manual will show you where. Check that the level is between the Min and Max marks. If below the Min mark you will need to add extra fluid.
• Never undo the engine coolant filler cap while the engine is hot. Serious scalding could result from hot fluid under high pressure escaping from the radiator. Place a cloth over the cap and unscrew it slowly. This will allow any pressure to escape.
• Fill the reservoir to the Max mark. Replace the cap.
• Never add cold water to an overheated engine, let it cool for a while first.
• Never overfill or the system will blow the excess out as soon as it warms up.

You can check out our continued list of easy-to-do car maintenance for beginners in the second half of this article.

Learn to Drive in Nevada Today!

The Northwest Driving School and Traffic School provides the Las Vegas community with live driving and traffic classes taught by seasoned instructors. All of our driving instructors have passed background checks. Each automobile is DMV safety-approved, and every member of the Northwest family is committed to providing excellent drivers ed and behind the wheel instruction.

At Northwest, you can expect to find outstanding classes, both on campus and behind the wheel, that are engaging, fact-filled, entertaining, and geared toward success. 

We make no bones about it, we believe that Northwest provides the best driving lessons in Las Vegas, no matter your age or background. We are proud of the fact that 98% of our students pass their test on the first try. Call us at (702) 403-1592 to start your driving adventure with one of our expert instructors.

Written by:
Rich Heinrich
Master Instructor, Emeritus