So you’ve bought your first car, taken it home, given it a good clean and there it sits proudly on your driveway waiting to be driven. It’s not quite the car of your dreams but it will do until you can afford the one that is. You want to get some value from your new chariot, keep it on the road for as long as possible and not have it cost you a fortune.

Cars, like most things in life, depreciate in value with time and the rate at which they lose their original value depends largely upon their age, the distance they’ve travelled and how well they’ve been maintained.
But there are ways to maximise their value, safety and reliability.  

Keep it oiled    

The engine is what drives the car and it is oil that keeps that engine lubricated and running smoothly. If the oil level is too low it will harm your engine and reduce its lifespan. It’s an easy thing to check. Most cars have a dipstick that you remove, wipe with a cloth and reinsert. You then pull it out and check the oil level is between the two high and low marks. If it isn’t, you can buy engine oil from most petrol stations and auto shops and you can top it up (they can help select the right oil). If the oil looks very thick and black then it might be time for an oil change, which a technician can do for you.

Stay connected with the road

The importance of the bits of rubber that keep your pride and joy connected to the road shouldn’t be underestimated, nor should the added cost of not taking care of them. By law there must be 1.5mm of tread around the circumference of your tyres and across three quarters of the width. To check, insert a 20c coin into the tread with the number facing in towards the tyre. If the entire number is visible the tyres only have 2mm of tread left and you should consider replacing them. A bald tyre is dangerous, particularly in an emergency where you might not stop as quickly, or worse skid.

Tyres should also be inflated to the manufacturer’s guidelines, usually displayed somewhere in the driver’s side door area of the car. Or you can use the EECA tyre pressure tool on its website. Just enter your registration number and it will tell you what the pressure should be. Under-inflated, or over-inflated tyres, will wear quicker and can mean your car is using more petrol than it should.

Effective brakes

Most brakes in new cars use a hydraulic fluid that applies pressure when the brakes are used. This fluid level drops as the brakes are used and will also deteriorate so should be checked and changed at regular intervals. You can top the level up yourself on most cars but if you’re unsure, ask a technician to do it for you.

Keep your engine cool

You should check the level of coolant in your engine regularly and before you go on long journeys. Without adequate coolant the engine can overheat and cause a whole range of damage – from blown gaskets to cracked cylinder heads - both of which can be pricey to fix. It’s much quicker, easier and cheaper to keep the coolant level up. If the level drops considerably, call roadservice as you may have a leak.

Keep the airflow easy

Your engine will have air filters that keep the air that rushes through the engine free of harmful dust and debris. These filters get dirty and oily and need changing at regular intervals. It is usually a job for the mechanic but well worth doing.

And keep it clean

This won’t necessarily make your car last longer or prevent it from breaking down but a little TLC lavished on your car makes it look a lot better which does have value when it comes to reselling. Keeping the lights, windows, windscreen and mirrors clean will also make it safer to drive, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.

Get it serviced   

A good service will sort out most of the above, so you won’t have to worry. Getting your car regularly serviced by a qualified mechanic will do a lot to ensuring it stays on the road and not in the repair shop. Keep a record of the services as it will be helpful should you want to sell it.