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Looking after your van

By: Alex3 McKoy3

If your van breaks down or is involved in an accident, you are going to be hit in the wallet whether it is covered by insurance or not, as claiming on your van insurance will nullify your no claims bonus and drive up your premium. By performing some basic maintenance on a regular basis, however, you can help to keep your van out of trouble, and out of the garage.

Obviously you need to take your van in for an MOT and a service every year anyway, but you can save having to make too many additional trips to the garage by performing these regular checks:

Tyres: Incorrect tyre pressures can cause dangerous malfunctions with the steering mechanism of your vehicle, which could lead to an accident. Most petrol stations have the tools for checking and changing your tyre pressures, so you should be sure to check them on a weekly basis. Differing loads can change the pressure of your tyres, so be sure to check them every time the loading of your van changes significantly, in addition to the regular checks.

Being involved in an accident is a sure fire way of sending your insurance premium through the roof. Worn out tyres are one of the leading causes of accidents, as they stand a much greater risk of puncturing or skidding in slippery conditions. For this reason, if you are caught driving a vehicle with any tyres that have a tread depth of less than 1.6mm, you will incur penalty points on your driving license and a hefty fine.

Oil: Engines contain a lot of moving parts which require oil for lubrication, so if your oil level falls below a certain threshold, your engine will begin to overheat and wear out. Simply by checking that your oil is above a certain level and topping it up frequently can save you a fortune in repair bills.

Water/coolant: Internal combustion engines have a tendency to heat up when they have been running for a while, and rely on water and/or coolant to keep temperatures within reasonable levels. Also, you need to put antifreeze in with the water in winter to prevent your radiator from freezing and bursting, so keeping all these levels topped up regularly is a must.

Washer fluid: Visibility is all important when you are out on the road, but without washer fluid, your windscreen wiper is going to have a hard time keeping your windows clean. Ensure that you never run out by topping up on a monthly basis or more if you are using the wipers regularly.

Brake fluid: Without brake fluid, contact brakes lose a great deal of their efficiency and wear out very quickly indeed. This can significantly increase the time it takes for your brakes to stop the vehicle, or cause them to stop working altogether, both of which could cause a fatal accident. This is probably the most important thing to check from a safety point of view, so be sure to do it at least once a month.

Article Source: http://freearticletrove.com

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