Car care continues after your new car’s break-in period. Drive mindfully everyday and your vehicle will reward you with longer intervals without repair. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Do not race your car’s engine during start-up. This is a quick way to add years of wear to your engine, especially during cold weather.

2. Keep below 3,000 rpm when you begin your drive. The most wear to the engine and drive train occurs in the first ten to twenty minutes of operation.

3. Dangerous myth: Warming the engine by letting it idle. The engine doesn’t operate at its peak temperature, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion. Soot then deposits on cylinder walls, oil becomes contaminated, and components are thus damaged.

4. Shifting to neutral at red lights. This put less strain on your engine and automatic transmission. Otherwise, the engine is still working to push the car even while it’s stationary.

5. Avoid high speeds and heavy acceleration. Not only will you increase your car’s fuel consumption, you’ll also add additional strain to your car’s mechanical assembly. Result: More frequent repairs.

6. Love your tyres. Avoid fast starts, sudden stops and sharp turns…avoid potholes and objects on the road. Don’t run over or hit curbs when parking. Don’t burn rubber.

7. Avoid holding your steering wheel in an extreme right or left position for more than a few seconds. Doing so may damage the power-steering pump.

These car care tips serve to keep you riding along smoothly in your car for many, many years to come.

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A car breakdown can be one of the most frustrating events of the day. Imagine being trapped in the middle of the road under the hot blazing sun while your car refuses to budge…or…the car engine just refuse to start as you’re rushing off to work.

Thankfully, simple vehicle maintenance can save you the frustration and expense of costly repairs. Here are some tips to save you time, hassle and money.

1. Look out for abnormal symptoms or noises while driving

If you observe significantly increased fuel consumption, hard starting or any unusual noises while driving, get your car inspected by an automotive technician. A good, honest car mechanic will usually not charge anything if there isn’t anything wrong with your car in the end.

2. Regular Servicing

Your vehicle should be serviced at regular intervals, usually every 10,000km or every 12 months, which ever occurs first. This alone will help avoid most car breakdowns on the road.

Make sure your car mechanic helps you check your radiator coolant level and if your radiator has accumulated any sludge…or…have suffered any rust or deterioration. Your car mechanic should also check the fan belt and drive belts, the battery health, the tyres and brakes as well as all the fluid levels under your car bonnet, etc.

You’re also advised to keep a car-servicing journal (usually provided by your dealer’s authorized workshops) to record the frequency of various car maintenance tasks.

3. Engine oil

Perform an engine oil level check occasionally (using the dipstick) when the engine is cold. Engine oil tends to get darker in colour as it ages. If your oil is darker than usual and you’re unsure of the mileage or when your last service was, the oil should be replaced.

4. Battery

Check the battery’s electrolyte level and top up with water if required. Ensure the terminals are clean and securely tightened. Buying batteries classified as “low maintenance” or “maintenance free” could help you save time on battery inspections. All new maintenance-free batteries can easily last over a year, so you won’t have a problem here.

The major cause of a car breakdown on public roads is due to flat batteries or punctured tyres. And this can be easily avoided or quickly rectified by ensuring that your batteries are checked regularly and your spare tyres are pumped to the correct pressure. So do these simple checks and you’ll have a smoother drive on the road.

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Reducing Petrol consumption can help lower your fuel costs. And I’m sure we don’t need more persuasion to retain more money in our pockets as Singaporeans. So let’s jump into it.. Now!

1. Drive at the correct speed

More than 50% of your engine’s power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag (air resistance). Since fuel is burnt more rapidly at speeds above 90km/h, as a rough gauge, traveling at 90km/h on the expressway would not only be safer, it keeps the cops away and helps you save money. Imagine… your car burns 15% more fuel at 100km/h, and 25% more fuel at 110km/h than at 90km/h. Perhaps the speed limits make some sense after all…

2. Maintain correct tire pressure

Deflated tires generate excessive heat, wears out faster and increases rolling resistance (= more fuel consumed). However do not over-inflate as this might reduce the tire’s “grip” on the road, causing potential danger if you need to do an emergency brake. Checking the tire pressure every 1-2 weeks will help ensure a smooth, safe ride. You can read the recommended tire pressure on the side of your tire printed by the manufacturer.

3. Watch your engine’s RPM

Your car’s engine runs most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. Therefore shift gears as soon as possible, before your engine reaches 2,500 rpm. On auto-transmission cars, you can always switch to “economy” mode and avoid stepping too hard on the gas. In this way, the transmission will shift gears faster and the gradual acceleration will ensure that less gas is burnt.

4. Unload unnecessary stuff from your car

Fact: Every additional 50kg load added in your car increases fuel consumption by two per cent. So avoid carrying unnecessary stuff in your car.

5. Drive smoothly

Another fact: You’ll use up to six times more fuel to move a car from a dead stop. Therefore anticipate the traffic ahead and avoid bringing your car to a complete stop. Also, you can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent if you do not brake or accelerate unnecessarily. Avoid following another vehicle too closely – this alone will help you avoid 90% of all unnecessary brakes and hard accelerations.

6. Clean your air filter regularly
Clogged air filters can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent. These airflow resistance promotes incomplete combustion and this cause the efficiency of your engine to go down — way down. So clean up or service your air filters when it’s time to.

7. Switch off your engine when not in use

We often like to leave our engines idling while waiting for passengers or to make an emergency phone call at the side of the road. However if you leave your engine idling for more than a minute, it consumes much more fuel than restarting (your engine). Contrary to popular belief, the increased wear and tear from this practice is negligible.

So follow these simple steps and you’ll see your petrol consumption fall and your fuel efficiency increase.

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