There are a number of vehicle maintenance checks which you can perform yourself in between scheduled services to help keep your vehicle safe and in top mechanical condition. These checks are not difficult to perform and won't take much time to complete.

Check your Fluids

It's important to make sure your engine is cold before checking your vehicles' fluids. There is a real and serious risk of burning yourself if these tasks are performed while the engine is hot.

To be safe, ensure that the vehicle has not been operated for at least 2 hours prior to performing maintenance tasks.

Most modern cars help owners identify areas which require attention by highlighting them in a bright colour.

The filler caps for the engine oil, dipstick, washer bottle and radiator fluid are normally coloured yellow.

Each area of the engine that requires your attention will have identification markers to show the minimum and maximum acceptable fluid levels.

Radiator Fluid (Coolant)

If your radiator requires coolant it is very important to use the exact coolant that is currently in the radiator. Different types of coolant rarely mix well and may corrode your cooling system or provide poor cooling efficiency. If you are unsure as to what coolant is currently in your vehicle, but it requires topping up, use tap water. Fill your coolant level to the MAX line identified on the reservoir.

Engine Oil

You can check your engine oil by removing the dipstick and wiping it with a clean rag. Re-dip the dipstick completely and remove once more. Check whether the oil is at the "full" mark on the bottom of the dipstick. If your oil level is marked at "low", "add" or worse, not on the dipstick at all, it's time to add oil to your engine. There are a few points to remember though:

	Always use the correct oil as recommended by the manufacturer. This can normally be found in your handbook. It's also a good idea to not mix mineral and synthetic oils together.
	Never overfill the engine with oil. More is not better. Overfilling the engine with oil can cause serious damage. Accidental overfills can be remedied by draining the excess oil from the sump underneath the car. By adding oil in small quantities and frequently checking the dipstick you can avoid overfilling your engine.
	Don't wait. If you notice your oil is low, avoid driving the car and add the recommended oil to the vehicle as soon as possible. Even short trips with a low level of engine oil can lead to complete engine failure.

Battery

Most modern batteries are maintenance free. Which means you shouldn't need to top them up with water for the duration of their life. These batteries have a small viewing panel which allows you to check the battery status at a glance. 'Green' means that the battery is charged, "clear" requires a charge and "red" requires replacement.

If your battery is an older style with screw caps on top, then you will need to check your batteries fluid level. Carefully unscrew the cap and check that the water level sufficiently covers the metal plates in each cell. If the water level is low, top the chamber up with water until the plates are covered. Don't fill your battery to the top, it will spill out and damage any paint it comes in contact with.

Tyres

Please read the dedicated tyre maintenance guide for complete tyre care information.

Lights

This maintenance task will be much easier with the help of a partner. First, walk around the car and visually check to see if any of your lights (headlights, fog lights, indicators, reverse and brake lights) are physically damaged. Check for cracks and discolouration. Next check their operation. Sit in the car and operate each of the lights individually, call out what you are operating to your partner. Have your partner check that all lights are functioning correctly. Take note of any faulty lights and address these with your mechanic as soon as possible. Remember, it's dangerous to operate a vehicle that does not have functioning warning or safety lights.