Not all maintenance items require cars to be taken to the garage. With some basic parts such as brake oil, coolant and tires, car owners can completely self-check at home to promptly detect abnormal signs, contributing to ensuring safety and limiting repair costs.
According to a car repair technician at Ninety Eight Auto (Cat Lai ward, Ho Chi Minh City), brake oil is an item that many car owners often forget. Because sudden damage rarely occurs, brake oil inspection is sometimes not paid attention to if the car is still operating normally.
The easiest sign to recognize is the feeling of braking changes. If the brake pedal is deeper than normal, the braking trip is long, or the braking distance increases abnormally, the car owner should take the car to the garage as soon as possible to check the braking system.
In addition, whistling during braking can also be a sign that the brake pad or other parts of the braking system are having problems.
Checking the brake oil is quite simple. The oil tank is usually made of transparent plastic and has minimum (MIN) and maximum (MAX) oil level limits. If the oil level is lower than regulations or the oil turns dark, the car owner should take the car to the garage for inspection.
However, the color is just a reference mark. Brake oil still needs to be replaced according to the time or distance recommended by the manufacturer, because this type of oil has the ability to absorb moisture during use, reducing braking efficiency.
Another important item is engine cooling water. Car owners should observe the auxiliary tank to check if the water level is between the MIN and MAX lines.
If you need to add more, you should use the correct type of coolant as recommended by the manufacturer. Do not mix different types of coolant or unknown ingredients, as it may reduce the effectiveness of protecting the cooling system.
In particular, absolutely do not open the radiator lid or coolant immediately after the car has just started operating. When the engine is still hot, the cooling system still maintains high pressure. Opening the lid at this time can cause coolant water and hot air to spray out, causing serious burns. Checking or injecting coolant water should only be done when the engine has completely cooled.
Tires are also a part that needs to be checked regularly. In addition to checking tire pressure periodically, car owners should observe the depth of tire thorns and the degree of wear of each wheel. If the tire wears evenly, this is a sign that tire pressure and wheel angle are likely still in a suitable state.
Conversely, if the tire is only worn on one side, worn in a sawtooth shape, or unevenly worn between the wheels, the car owner should not just turn the tire to continue using it. This may be a sign of a deviation in the wheel placement angle, or parts of the suspension or steering system are damaged. In this case, it is necessary to check and handle the cause before adjusting or replacing a new tire.
According to technicians, self-inspecting basic items only takes a few minutes but can help detect many abnormal signs early, contributing to ensuring safety during operation and extending the lifespan of parts on the vehicle.
However, for tasks related to braking systems, suspension systems, steering systems or chassis, vehicle owners should still take the vehicle to reputable maintenance facilities for inspection with specialized equipment and follow the correct technical procedures.
