HNB General Blog

Want information about extending the life of your vehicle? Look no further, we have compiled a list to assist you in maintaining your automobile and helping it perform at its peak for longer.

1) Tyre Pressure

Monitor your tyre pressure on a regular basis, especially when driving on uneven roads inundated with pot holes. In addition, warm weather causes tyres to lose air at a faster rate. Monitoring your tyre pressure becomes vital as it will ensure you have a stable ride, and results in fewer blowouts. Furthermore, different vehicles have different tyre pressures, so make sure you consult your owner’s manual as ‘one pressure does not fit all’  in this case.

2) Engine Oil

This should probably should be the first on this list, changing engine oil on a regular basis arguably contributes to a high performing engine. Periodic oil changes, specified by the vehicle manufacturer ensures that your engine has a longer lifespan.

3) Wheel alignment

It may seem like common sense, but aligning wheels is something a lot of drivers forget to do. Aligning the wheels correctly leads to a smoother ride, maximizes fuel efficiency and causes minimal waste to your tyres, meaning you have a longer tyre lifespan.

4) Engine and Battery

The engine is the heart of any vehicle. Keeping good care of it ensures that your vehicle has a longer life-cycle. Take engine maintenance and repairs very seriously by taking it to a trusted dealer of your choice. Like a good partnership, a strong engine works in sync with a reliable battery, which also needs regular maintenance (ie: regular cleaning of terminals, topping up the cells and maintaining the recommended PH value for optimum performance).

5) Brakes

In recent years, Toyota have had to recall their vehicles due to faulty breaks. We advise you to regularly check your brakes as it presents a major safety hazard. Look into the wear and tear of the brake pads/shoes as well as the braking mechanism to ensure that your vehicle stops when you need it to.

6) A/C repair

For those who travel in hot, humid conditions such as in Sri Lanka, the A/C breaking down can be  major nightmare. In addition, refrigerant leaks from the A/C unit and can harm the environment and cause possible damage to your compressor and evaporator. Regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit, such as cleaning the air filter will ensure you have a more comfortable ride.

7) Interior cleaning: Odor and Dirt Removal

Let us be honest: nobody likes a dirty automobile. If you smoke, have small children and/or pets, there is a much higher likelihood that your vehicle will be a lot messier than the average user. Make it a point to keep your interior clean by vacuuming and cleaning away the dust, dirt, stains and impurities from the seats, carpets and the upholstery.

What are your vehicle maintenance tips? Tell us in the comments!

Disclaimer: The views shared in this blog are based on the macro economic conditions & industry status quo as per the time of publishing.

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Sources

Tabuchi,H 2010, Toyota is to Recall 2010 Prius Model Cars for Brakes, The New York Times 7 February. [Accessed 25th August 2014].

Toyota says to recall 242,000 vehicles for brake glitch, Reuters, 5 June  2013. [Accessed 27th August 2014].