Every now and then, you come across a piece of golden car advice. A simple trick that, had you known at the time, could have saved you thousands of Rands. I have no shortage of examples where people ended up having to spend serious money doing serious repairs, for having neglected or perhaps been totally unaware about what started off as a very small, easily fixed problem. I always want to share these tricks and tips with you – it is our job to save you money - but they are usually one-liners and do not warrant a full article! Unless you put them all together – which is what I have done here. I have compiled a rather random list of expert advice, surprising tricks and good to know care care tips to prolong the life of your vehicle! I hope you find a golden nugget in there. 

1. Do not mix coolants 

Avoid mixing coolants that are different in colour. If your coolant is pink, do not add a green formulation to it. Otherwise, you will end up with a thick solution that will not do its job. Use only the coolant specified in your owner’s manual. 

2. Run your AC in winter 

To keep your car’s air-conditioning system fit for the next warm season, run it a few times throughout the winter. This will prevent moving parts in the compressor from seizing. Also, circulating the refrigerant will help keep the seals soft and pliant. 

3. Lighten up your keychain 

Does your car key share a chain with a dozen or more other keys? That is a heavy load hanging off the car key when it’s in the ignition. The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure. To add years of service to your ignition switch, purchase a lightweight keychain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others. Drive with only the ignition key in your ignition. If your ignition key “sticks” when you try to turn on the car, it is a warning that your ignition switch is about to fail. Replace it before you get stranded. 

4. Do not fill up if you see the tanker 

If you happen to see a petrol tanker filling the tanks at your local petrol station, come back another day or go to a different station. As the station’s underground tanks are being filled, the turbulence can stir up sediment. Sediment in your petrol can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs. 

5. Fix small windshield chips 

Got a rock chip, crack, or ding in your windshield? Bring your car to a windshield repair shop. For far less cost than replacing the windshield, they can fix chips and cracks, even quite long ones. The repairs not only keep the chips and cracks from spreading and restore structural integrity, but they also improve clarity. 

6. Maintain proper inflation 

Under-inflated tyres are a tyre salesman’s best friend. They create excessive heat and stress that can lead to tyre failure. If you want to get every mile out of your tyres, get yourself a tyre pressure gauge and use it at least once a month (more in hot weather) to keep your tyres inflated to the recommendation in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Check tyres when they are cold (driven for less than two kilometers) for an accurate reading. 

7. Rotate your tyres 

Rotating your tyres helps to distribute tyre wear evenly and ensures that you will get the maximum road life out of them. The first rotation is especially important. Your owner’s manual should specify both rotation period and pattern. If not, rotate your tyres every 10,000 to 12,000 km —your tyre dealer should know the correct pattern of tyre rotation. 

8. Fill with washer fluid only 

Do not add water to the windshield washer reservoir. It will not clean as well as washer fluid, and it may freeze in cold weather and damage the system. Do not try to run your windshield washer system once you suspect there is no more fluid in the tank, or you may damage the washer fluid pump