If you own a van for either home or business use, it is just as important that you carry out regular maintenance on it as it would be for a car, in order to minimize the chance of breaking down or having any debilitating failures occur while you’re on the road. Regular maintenance also helps to lengthen the lifespan of your vehicle, whereas working it to the bone and not looking after it can lead to premature scrapping. Here, we run through some of the basic steps of van maintenance including the checks you should carry out weekly and those you can carry out monthly.
Table of Contents
Weekly
First of all, there a number of basic checks to carry out beneath your van’s bonnet. A basic visual inspection of all parts will soon tell you if there is anything out of place or if any parts have come loose. You will need to check your oil levels, which is easy to do by removing the dipstick, cleaning it with a cloth, placing it back into the oil container, then removing it to see if the oil leaves a residue that reaches the marker. You will also need to make sure there is plenty of coolant in the coolant container, and again, the parts have been designed with handy markers to make this easy for you. Finally, check that there is plenty of washer fluid so that if your windscreen becomes obscured you can always clear it quickly, to avoid an accident.
As well as the bonnet checks, tyre checks are crucial for the efficient performance of your vehicle. Your vehicle’s handbook, and sometimes handy stickers on the inside of the doors, will tell you the pressure that your tyres require, and you will need to use a pump to add pressure until they reach the required level.
Failing to top up your tyre pressure will lead to permanent wheel damage that will be expensive to repair. Your brakes will need to be checked weekly too, as these have the most serious potential repercussions if they fail. If you have a van roof rack, be sure to check that the mounting brackets are still secure and free of any rust. Lastly, if your van is being used for business purposes it is likely that the exterior has branding on, so it’s important that you give it a wipe down not only to makes sure the branding is clear, but also to avoid damaging your reputation.
Monthly
There are other checks which, although are a necessity, can be carried out less often. To start, you need to make sure all of your lights are in full working order. Vehicle bulbs last a long time but if you are driving in the dark and your headlights fail, you will need to be recovered and may be in a vulnerable position until you can be, so it’s best to avoid this where possible. For vans in particular it is additionally important that all doors are in good condition, and that they open and close effectively, as this ensures that any cargo is safe and secure.
Your windscreen and your wipers will also need to be checked to ensure that there are no chips which could end up extending and requiring an expensive full screen replacement. Wipers are vital for keeping your screen clear of obstructions which could cause an accident. Your horn and seat belts are extremely important safety features and therefore also need to be checked monthly.
Van Insurance
No matter how much time you spend on vehicle maintenance, unfortunately you cannot completely avoid accidents, so it is important to make sure you have breakdown cover sorted as well as the appropriate insurance set up to protect yourself from any unexpected expenses. You should consider getting van insurance from onesureinsurance.co.uk as they have some brilliant deals to help you keep costs down.
By following these few simple steps, you can keep your van in tip top condition, avoid needing roadside recovery at the least convenient times, avoid accidents both big and small, and extend the life of your trusty vehicle. This blog offers loads of useful life advice like this which can help you avoid the usual pitfalls, like relationship and health issues as well as more practical home advice.
