What lies beneath?

Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips and advice from our chief examiner, Peter Rodger. This week, he is advising on checking under your bonnet. Drivers’ need for more information on what belongs beneath their bonnet has been highlighted by a recent poll by Britannia Rescue, showing that 70 per cent of people struggle to complete simple maintenance tasks like checking a vehicle’s oil levels. The IAM’s advice on fluid level checks:

1. Use your dipstick to check the oil level by first parking your car on level ground. Then remove and clean the dipstick, dip it back in and check where the oil comes up to.    
2. If your oil needs topping up, try not to over fill, as this can cause excessive pressure in that area of the engine as well as oil leaks
3. Avoid mixing different kinds of oil – check your owners handbook to find the correct oil for your car
4. Your washer fluid will usually be in a white container, through which you should be able to see what level the fluid comes to. This can be topped up with washer fluid or water, but must be at least 50 per cent washer fluid in winter
5. Wait until your vehicle has completely cooled before checking the engine coolant level – ensure that the liquid is not below the cold indicator line to avoid overheating and damage

During the winter months the thought of sheltering under your bonnet from the pouring rain to check your car’s fluid levels is not a pleasant one. Rain or shine it is important to keep your fluid levels in check, as well as your lights, tyres and windscreen wipers, in order to avoid more serious issues than soggy trousers further down the line.