Even the most rugged of Utes needs some tender loving care to keep it in optimal working order. Whether you drive one of the most rugged 4WD vehicles in the country, or just drive a regular car, taking care of your vehicle can save you money in the long run. Even an unassuming Toyota Corolla benefits from following good car care procedures. Many people believe that UTEs are easy to maintain, but the truth is that if you don’t keep on top of them, then they can cost you a lot of time and money. Luckily, there are plenty of tips on how to build a UTE tray which also will help you to keep your UTE in tip-top condition. If you follow these tips, then your UTE will be one of the best on the road.
- Maintenance
Just like your car, if you’re not keeping tabs on how your UTE’s engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid levels are, then you could be heading for big engine problems. Once a year, check your vehicle’s engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake/clutch fluid levels. And take that opportunity to have these “fluids” changed by a professional mechanic. One of my favorite things to do with my Italian sports cars is checking their oil. Not in the “let me check the coolant level in the green fluid in the tank” way, but actually changing their oil. I enjoy watching their levels drop after running at high RPMs on the track. I’m sure many people reading this are not too happy with me right now, but that’s OK.
- Coolant
If you can service the cooling system, it would be good to do so at some point. The thermostat or radiator cap is likely to need attention or replacement. If all of these have been replaced on the car prior, leave them alone. At this point, leave your car on its own for a couple of weeks and see if there is an apparent improvement on the water temperature gauge. Be sure to check the operation of the indicators together with the lights. Also, test together with your brakes and reversed lamps and license plate lights. Additionally, be sure that your headlights are working, both full beam and dipped as well as spotlights.
- Pumps and fluids
A visual check of the drive belts throughout the engine bay is important, and the condition of the rubber can tell you whether they are getting old and might fail soon. It’s not uncommon for aftermarket accessories to be installed that might need a different belt or sprocket or other accessories that could possibly place extra stress on that belt which could wear it out quickly.
- Washers, windscreens, and wipers
It is a good idea to check the windscreen wash level occasionally as it will evaporate with the sun beating down on the car all day, so you might find you can top it up now and again. This will help keep your windscreen clean and keep the washer bottle from freezing as well as keeping your wiper blades in good condition, as they can become brittle over long periods of time if their natural lubricant is lacking.
