RAY MASSEY: Wheel in the savings with my car 17 care tips

As the trees shed their golden coats, it should serve as a reminder to ensure your car is properly maintained and road-ready for wet weather.

But that can mean a hefty garage bill, of course. 

So for top car-care tips on how motorists might help reduce their costs – whether by shopping around, doing some simple DIY, or changing their driving habits – I contacted Limvirak Chea, co-founder of car maintenance app Fixter, which aims to make servicing your car ‘as easy as ordering a takeaway’.

Chea said: ‘We understand that lots of drivers see car maintenance as a burden rather than a way to save money in the long run. But this cycle of neglect can lead to costly repairs over time that could have been avoided with regular maintenance.

‘From simple oil checks that take a maximum of five minutes to carry out, to the way you actually drive your car on a day to day basis, we can all take small steps towards keeping our vehicles in better condition and reducing the need to have repairs at the garage.’

Chea set up the company in 2017 and says its car maintenance app is dedicated to finding customers ‘trustworthy garages at fair prices, fast’.

Here are the 17 car jobs that could save you hundreds of pounds…

Wash & wax

Regularly washing and waxing your car preserves its appearance, improves resale value and avoids the need for an expensive respray if it starts to rust.

Saving: Around £2,500.

Swipe right

Windscreen wipers need to be changed at least once a year, and even more regularly in colder and wetter climates like the UK. 

Driving without working windscreen wipers is illegal and extremely dangerous, so keep on top of this task. 

Learning to change windscreen wiper blades yourself saves you labour costs of up to £8. 

Saving: Up to £96.

Stay slick

Low engine oil levels accelerate engine wear, damage and stress, so monitoring and topping up oil regularly is crucial – typically it should be done every three months or 30,000 miles.

Saving: £105.

Dash to safety

Up to half of motorists admit ignoring dashboard warning lights, says Mr Chea. Do heed the warnings or risk damage.

Saving: Up to £185.

Keep your cool

Regular checks on the level and condition of coolant in your radiator helps prevent failures caused by engine overheating. Frequent level drops could indicate a leak. 

Saving: Around £80 or into the thousands for engine damage.

Shop smart

Getting your car fully serviced is a necessary but sometimes costly task. So shop around and compare prices from different garages. 

You can do it the ‘old-school way of calling around or visiting garages, or using an online service such as Fixter which compares options. 

Saving: £88 on average.

Get pumped

Tyres typically last three to four years but their lifespan is reduced by incorrect inflation pressure, worn suspension, poor wheel alignment and overloaded cars.

For safety, Fixter urges checking tyre tread depth regularly using the 20p test. ‘Simply insert a 20p coin into the tread grooves – if you can see the outer band of the coin, your tyres may be below the legal limit and need replacing,’ Mr Chea says.

Saving: 440 for four tyres.

Look after your battery

A flat battery could leave you stranded leave you stranded – and recharging is much cheaper than a replacement.

Invest in a solar roadside charger costing around £40.

Saving: £200 to £300 cost of a battery.

Smooth gear changes to protect your clutch

In cars with manual gears, poor driving habits can wear out clutches.

So make smooth gear changes and avoid erratic movements or ‘riding’ the clutch too long.

Warning signs include: difficulty in shifting gear; squeaking or grumbling noises when engaging the clutch; and poor acceleration.

Saving: £455 cost of a new clutch.

Prevent worn brake pads

To keep brake pads in top working condition, avoid sudden, hard braking and ‘riding’ the brakes – especially going downhill.

Saving: Up to £249 for all four brake pads (£99 for front, £150 for rear).

Look after your exhaust

Driving too quickly over a speed bump or road debris can damage your exhaust system beyond repair.

To avoid rust, consider undercoating your exhaust for heavily salted roads.

Saving: £100 to £500.

Sound out your suspension

The suspension keeps your car under control for a smooth ride. Clunking noises when going over speed bumps or potholes can signal problems. So listen out.

Saving: From £100 to £300.

Check brake fluid levels

Checking brake fluid is simple but crucial.

Brake fluid reservoirs under the bonnet have ‘MIN’ and ‘MAX’ markings – ensure the fluid level is between them. Check fluid colour is between clear to amber: ‘If it’s dark and muddy, it needs changing,’ says Fixter.

Saving: Up to £65 on a garage visit.

Take care of your fuel filter

The fuel filter removes dirt and rust particles from your fill-ups – to prevent them causing damage in the engine.

‘Loud noises coming from your fuel pump, consistent stalling or trouble starting your engine could all be signs that your fuel filter is clogged and needs to be replaced,’ says Fixter.

Check for tell-tale signs and only fill-up with fuel from reputable sources.

Saving: Between £65 to £90 initially (rising to thousands of pounds if left unchecked).

Keep an eye on your cambelt

Neglecting a vehicle’s cambelt can lead to timing failures and costly engine damage.

Cambelts typically need replacing every 4 to 5 years, but issues from oil and water leaks to infrequent driving can cause damage and require more frequent changes. 

Tell-tale warning signs include a misfiring engine, rough idling and even a squealing noise. Don’t ignore them.

Remove the cambelt cover and look for frayed edges or damage on the inside. If the rubber looks shiny or marbled, or has cracking, that’s a sign it’s getting old.

Also look at the belt as it runs. It should stay tight and straight. If it’s flexing, it’s more likely to jump teeth, which isn’t good news.

Saving: £800+.

Avoid having to replace brake rotors

Brake rotors work with brake pads to help you safely stop.

But the harder you brake the more damage is caused to brake rotors, which over time can become a safety risk.

‘One of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep your brake rotors intact and safe for use is to reduce harsh braking,’ says Fixter.

Brake disc cleaners costing from under £10 help remove dirt and debris and improve performance.

Saving: Up to £725 for all four brake rotors (£375 for front, £350 for rear).

Keep air filters clean

The air filter helps the engine run more efficiently and should be changed every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.

Motorists who buy second hand cars may need to replace their air filter sooner rather than later.

‘Reduced fuel efficiency, jerking movements when you accelerate and black smoke coming from your exhaust pipe can all be signs that your air filter needs replacing,’ says Fixter.

Replacing air filters yourself avoid labour costs at the garage.

Saving: From £40 to £75.