Checking tyres once a month just isn't good enough. Pressures vary a lot with weather/temperature, and there's also the need to check for damage.
Given that most people couldn't give a monkey's and generally neglect them, modern tyres are absolutely brilliant...
|
I am retired after 27 years with a small garage ... I was asked regularly ... what should I do between services ... so I made up this list ...............
This should take no longer than 10 minutes ................
What should I do between services ?
On a regular basis (at least once a week) Check :
Oil level
Coolant level
Windscreen Washer Solvent level
Brake fluid level
Battery Fluid (If not sealed for life)
Check Tyre pressures including Spare
Wiper Blades (Front and Rear) and Washers
Get someone to help you check all of your lights :
Front - head ... Main and dip
Spot or Fog
Side Lamps
Indicators including Side Repeaters And Hazard
Rear Lamps
Stoplamps
Fog lamps
Number Plate Lamps
Front and Rear Number plates
Horn
|
>>Check Windscreen Washer Solvent level
How? On my Sierra there was a rubber dip stick which was simple and effective.
It is just not possible on the Focus and I would have to make a dip stick for the Mondeo.
So check = top up every time?
There's progress for you! Oh it tells you when it is empty so thats all right then.
|
Twice - once when I buy it, once when I sell it.
----------------------------------------------
Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
|
Mark,
If we ever have a poll to find the forums motoring slag, you can rest assured that you will walk it. ;-)
--
|
Thank you Robin, so kind. 8-)
Seriously though, I am frequently amazed at the lengths that some people go to. Now that's up to them, its nto my place to say, but it nonetheless amazes me.
The local Tesco is about 2 miles from my house. A pub I enjoy is about 4 miles. My golfing buddie is about 2 miles. The train station is about 3 miles. I frequently drive the car to those places; it would never occur to me to consider whether or not the car is comfortable with that process - that's what it's for. If I want to move it around on the dirve, then I do so. Fancy having a car that you want 10 foot from where it is and then worrying about how that isn't possible without taking it for a 5 mile drive.
Ditto maintenance. I cannot imagine checking the PAS fluid or the oil weekly. If its that rubbish that a week is as long as I can expect either to reliably last unchecked, then that truly is a rubbish car -whether because of wear and trear or awful design - the car would have to go. And as for "[tyre] Pressures vary a lot with weather/temperature", no they don't. Or at least, not enough to matter.
And as for cleaning; I do nto wash the outside of my hosue, the drive, or my car. They are outside things, designed to be used outside. Why on earth I would spend any time at all, never mind once a week, washing it is beyond me.
If it gets that dirty, then that's what car washes are for. And so what if it gets little swirls in the paintwork - its a car, who cares ?
I know I go on about this from time to time, but really - its just a car. Its made of metal and its designed to be used outside. Its not a little teddy bear that needs a lot of cuddling.
|
My mate has the new Mazda RX8 in which the manual says, specifically, that the engine should not be started unless you are going to drive some reasonable mileage afterwards - which means do not start it for manoeuvring purposes etc.
Seemingly this leads to undue engine wear with respect to the rotor tip material, I presume.
The whole engine, smoothness apart, seems a disaster anyway, as it is 'dirty' and uneconomical.
|
|
|
|
"Checking tyres once a month just isn't good enough"
I feel suitably chastised! Once a month is better than never which is par for the course for a company car.
|
Quite interesting, this is what my company expects from every driver of every company vehicle on a daily basis.
HGV LCV CAR D = Daily walk-round Vehicle Check required by Driver
D D D Brake Pedal (firm when pressure applied, no excessive movement)
D D D Handbrake operates correctly (effective with no excessive movement)
D D D Steering (no excessive free play)
D D D Horn working and effective
D D D Windscreen Wipers and Washers working and effective
D D D Seat Belts in good condition and used
D D D Vehicle load safe, secure and vehicle not overloaded
D D D Current Road Fund Licence visible and valid
D D D Mirrors and Glass ? clean, effective and providing good visibility
D D D All Lights and reflectors working and effective (regardless of daylight)
D D D Number Plates ? clean and visible
D D D Body-work undamaged, no jagged metal ? Report ANY & ALL damage!
D D D Check for any evidence of Fuel, Oil or Hydraulic Oil Leaks
D D D Exhaust and silencer effective with no black smoke
D D D Tyre Pressures* & Wheel Fixings - daily VISUAL, *Check by Gauge when re-fuelling
T ADDITIONAL DAILY CHECKS FOR ALL LIVERIED VEHICLES
R D D Vehicle Utilisation Record (Logsheet) completed daily for all vehicles used
A D D Amber Rotating Beacons working and effective
I D D Vehicle in safe, clean and tidy condition including Cab and Rear
L D Drivers Hours Record Book held and completed daily
E D O Licence disc visible and valid
R D Lifting Equipment Certificate valid
T T Trailer Service Label present and within date
T T Trailer marker/number plates ? correct, in place, clean, visible & secure
T T Trailer Tyre Pressures, Condition, Tread, Wear, Cuts & Wheel Fixings
T T Trailer Brake Hoses, Coupling Security, Electrical Connections, Lights
All drivers are allocated 10 minutes for the check and are expected to sign their log sheet on a daily basis to confirm the checks have been done.
Fluid checks are mandated additionally on a minimum weekly basis.
Of course that doesn't mean that it is complied with but woe betide any of our drivers stopped for any contravention of the above........
Cockle
|
|
|
I check nearly daily when new or newly aquired for around a week or two - it depends (well, tyres twice in that period, and washer fluid at the end of it, lights at the end of it). If all has been well over that first couple of weeks then after that it might be as often as I wash it ,which is maybe twice or at a push 3 times a year.
I'll take a look just before a scheduled service and AFTER it too! So that maybe makes 4 times a year. With 3 cars now - that's me getting out of the armchair about once a month at least - quite enough.
I'll walk around the car just before a longish journey just to be sure the wheels are still on it and more or less round and that's about it.
|
Far be it from me to argue with FM2, because I know I will lose! However, there are differences between washing your house, windows, drive etc., and ensuring that your car is in SAFE working order, or at least ensuring that your car can perform its required function. I can live in my house with the curtains drawn but I need to check the washer fluid on my car so I can see out. I wash my car occasionally so that my lights will illuminate the road ahead and so that others can see me and my intentions (indicators), I check the brake fluid level so (I think) the brakes will work (a quick glance does it) in the same way that I occasionally bleed my radiators in the house so that the heating works properly, I wear a clean shirt and underwear, have a shower every day (whether I need one or not!) because I feel more comfortable and I hope that it gives the right impression to the people I work with and for. I iron my shirts, (they are only a bit of cloth and who cares if they have a few creases? why do I bother Ironing the back and sleeves when I wear a jacket all the time?) I have the feeling that if Mark was dealing, in his business or socially, with someone who didn't give a damn about his appearance, and wore filthy clothes, with various buttons missing and his fly unzipped, that he would be fairly dismissive of them.
And as for the contention that it is a crap car that needs its fluid levels checking, it's the same with zipping your flies - how could I forget to do that? Well, I have, that's why I try to remember to check each day! - just in case! Same with car - just in case! It's not a question of " If its that rubbish that a week is as long as I can expect either to reliably last unchecked, then that truly is a rubbish car " - it's "just in case"
By the way, I don't wash my car weekly, but I do check the washer bottle weekly because I hate being "blind", especially at this time of year, so while I do that I have a quick glance at dipstick, brake fluid level and radiator level - not had to top up any of those for years but I still do it. I do the same with my house - check it's still there before I unlock front door - just in case it has fallen down.
OK Mark, I know you will demolish this post in detail - or maybe you can't be bothered!
--
Phil
|
>>And as for "[tyre] Pressures vary a lot with weather/temperature", no they don't.
And if they do, which they do, then that points out the large tolerance that is acceptable for tyre pressures.
|
All levels: once a week, although I'm not sure why I bother sometimes, as nothing ever seems to go down.
Tyres, brake pads: visual check at the same time as the fluid levels.
Screenwash: Refill every week on the Hyundai, not necessary on the Nissan as it has an indicator on the dash to tell me when the screenwash has run down.
It amazes me sometimes that many newer cars with lights and audio prompts for just about everything forget about the screenwash indicator. Very annoying.
But I have to admit that I've been neglecting things lately. I haven't washed the cars in six months now, and it's been 2 weeks since I bothered checking the cars. Must get back into the routine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
