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3.2 Car maintenance
Refuelling
Monitor the fuel gauge and/or onboard computer. When the fuel level warning light turns on you can drive additional circa 50 km before you run out of fuel.
Drive to filling station so that the fuel tank cap is on the same side as the fuel pump. Usually the fuel tank cap is on the right side of the vehicle. Choose the payment method and the fuel pump that you plan to use. Follow the instructions of the machine.
Refuelling a gas car
Servicing done by the driver
Regular servicing is needed so that the car will remain safe, economical and long-lasting. The car service manual has the service schedule, which you should follow. Scheduled services are done in brand service or other professional service. Smaller service works can be done independently.
A car that has gone through vehicle inspection and serviced regularly is usually safe. The driver should monitor the functionality of the things important for safety:
Brakes
Suspensions and shock absorbers
Head lights
Steering
Windscreen wipers
Engine space
Pull the interior hood (bonnet) latch in the driver's foot space.
Release the latch under the hood and lift the hood.
Put the hood rod into its place.
Check the engine coolant level
When the engine is cold the level of the liquid should be between MIN and MAX markings. DON’T REMOVE THE CAP WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT! Don’t mix engine coolants that are different colors or type.
Check the brake liquid level
The level of the liquid should be between MIN and MAX markings. DON’T LET THE LIQUID GET TO YOUR SKIN OR EYES. If you get the liquid to a painted surface wipe it off immediately with a wet sponge and rinse with water.
Check the engine oil level
DON’T OPEN THE CAP WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING! Check the level of the engine oil regularly (for example when refuelling).
Make sure that the car is on even surface. Turn off the engine and wait for few minutes. Pull out the dip stick and wipe it off on a clean, lint-free rag, insert the stick back into the pipe and pull the dipstick out again.
If the oil level is between the markings you don’t need to add more oil.
If the oil level is on the MIN-marking, add oil recommended by the manufacturer (about 0.5-1 liter). The engine oil fill up cap has a picture of an oil can on it.
Fuse box
Turn off the electricity and all the electric devices before changing a fuse or relay. A burnt-out fuse can be recognized from a broken fuse string.
Battery
A car battery is usually service free.
BATTERY ACID IS CORROSIVE! Use safety gloves and goggles.
Windscreen washer tank
Fill with clean water and windscreen wash liquid concentrate if necessary. It is wise to check the windscreen wipers at the same time. If the wiping pattern is not even you should clean the rubber part with windscreen was concentrate. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you should change the wiper.
Tires
The law requires that the tread depth should be at least 1.6 mm for a summer tire and 3.0 mm for a winter tire. Some tires have tread wear indicators in the middle of the tread. The numbers in the indicator tell you how many millimeters of tread is left.
Test with a 2-euro coin
A two-euro coin tells you the condition of a tire. If the silver ring that is close to 4 mm high rises over the tire block, it is advisable to consider changing the tire.
Check studded tires
If a tire still has its studs attached but they sway, the traction of the tire is significantly worse. A stud that sways does not work on ice and also has poor traction on snow. If a lot of studs have come off the tire – and different amounts from different tires – the traction of the tire may be dangerously bad. The amount of studs should not variate more than 25 % between the tires.
Check tire pressure
Check the correct tire pressure from the owner’s manual. Temperature effects on the air pressure in the tires: you need more pressure in cold than in in warm. Never adjust tire pressure immediately after a drive. Tires will always warm up while driving.
If your car has a spare tire, remember to check the tire pressure of the spare tire regularly.
Unscrew the valve stem cap from the valve stem and press the air hose nozzle onto the tire stem.
Use the - and + buttons to adjust the tire pressure to match the owner’s manual recommendations. With normal load the tire pressure on a passenger car is usually between 2 - 2,5 bar.
Towing
1. When a vehicle, which cannot or must not be driven by means of its own propulsion, is towed with a tow-rope or tow-bar the distance between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle shall be at least 3 meters and not more than 6 meters. A clearly visible flag shall be attached to the middle part of the tow-rope or the tow-bar. A vehicle with the brakes out of order may be towed only with a bar, a boom or a dolly and a vehicle with the steering out of order may be towed only when lifted to rest upon a boom or with a dolly.
2. Simultaneous towing of two vehicles with the same towing vehicle is prohibited. Towed vehicle must not be heavier than the towing vehicle without a compelling reason. The driver of a towed vehicle shall be a holder of a driving license authorizing him to drive such a vehicle.
Maintenance of an electric car
Electric cars require less maintenance than cars with internal combustion engines, as electric motors are simpler in construction. For example, electric cars do not require a change of oil, belts or spark plugs.
However, electric cars contain similar mechanical parts to cars with internal combustion engines, and the maintenance of such parts is very similar.
Cleaning the car
Washing the Car
Get good equipment designed for washing a car:
soft brush or sponge
car shampoo
wheel cleaning detergent
Start by rinsing the car to remove dirt
Wash the car with car shampoo
Rinse carefully with plenty of water
Cleaning the car interior
Vacuum the car interior.
Swipe all surfaces with a microfiber cloth. Always spray the detergent on the cloth, not directly on the surface to be cleaned.
Because the windscreen and other glass surfaces stain easily, it is best to wash them last.