Do-it-yourself routine checks

Sometimes the pressure of one tyre may be much lower than the others - but the driver does not notice it. In some cases there is hardly any lubrication oil left in the engine - but the driver keeps on using the vehicle because he or she doesn't know what is happening.

In the past, anyone who wanted to drive an automobile had to learn how to look after it, including topping up the battery with distilled water, using the jack and changing a wheel, checking the level of the engine oil and the coolant and so on. These were things that drivers in those days had to be capable of doing themselves, no matter whether they were male or female.

The modern lifestyle has everyone in a hurry, and with the "make more money" philosophy, people let money do their work for them. These days, people buy a car and leave the maintenance to a service centre. They are willing to pay more money than they have to, just for the convenience. This means that having an automobile these days is another way of increasing your expenses.

Many of the things that people expect a service centre to do are jobs that don't require any special skills or training. And they take just 10 to 15 minutes per week.

For example, pop the car's hood open every weekend and pull out the engine oil dip stick. If the oil level is between the "min" and "max" marks, then there's enough oil there. But if the level is closer to the "min" mark and the engine is often used at high revs or is driven uphill, more engine oil should be added, so that the level reaches the "max" mark. This is fine if the engine oil you add is of the same brand as that already in the engine.

After the engine oil, the level of the transmission fluid can be easily checked - although it is rather difficult to add more fluid. You can have this done at a service centre by telling the mechanic how much extra fluid is needed.

Then there is the power-steering fluid, which can also be easily checked. In some vehicles, you can see the level on the reservoir - which is similar to the coolant reservoir, but smaller. In some cars there is a small dip stick on the reservoir, just like that for the engine oil. If the level is low, add transmission fluid that has an ATF label. But if the level is low it suggests fluid is escaping, so after topping up the reservoir you should try to locate the leak.

With brake fluid, if the level has not dropped much, then you don't need to add any more, since the level usually drops as the brake pads begin to wear down. When you have the brake pads replaced, it will rise again to the original level, so if you have added more fluid, it will overflow. However, if the brake-fluid level is lower than the "min" mark, then you should take the vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible.

The next thing to check is the coolant level. Open the radiator cap and reservoir and add clean water to the required level. Then check the battery. If you have one of those batteries made of clear plastic that lets you see the cells inside, use a piece of cloth to clean the side of the battery so you can clearly see the liquid levels. If the level is low on any or all of the cells, then add distilled water.

Then check the windshield-washer fluid level as well as that for the headlamp washers.

Finally, check the tyre pressure with a trustworthy gauge. You can purchase one at any department store for a few hundred baht. Check the pressure before you drive off, when the tyres are still cold. This is the most accurate way of measuring the tyre pressure.

As you can see, the basic checks on a vehicle are very easy and do not take much time. No matter if you are a teenager, a woman or an old timer, if you want to drive then you should be able to carry out these checks. As well as saving money, you can also make sure that your vehicle is in good condition and is safe to drive.