Maintaining your commercial van

A van is a very big investment and making sure that you keep it in top condition is very important. Being careless or lazy when it comes to maintaining your van can mean you will be spending more and more on repairs during the lifetime of your vehicle.

There are many measures that you yourself can carry out that don't require a huge knowledge of mechanics or vans. When to carry out preventative maintenance depends very much on just how much your van is used.

Under the Bonnet.

Checking your Engine Oil is one of the first preventative measures to do along with replacing oil filters. With regards to replacing parts, if you are unsure of how to replace them then leave those until you have your van serviced or seek advice from someone more knowledgeable. Air filters are also another internal part that will need replacing from time to time.

Depending on your knowledge and experience you could check your engine coolant and replace it if needed.

Checking that your van's battery terminals are clean is very important, making sure also that they are secure is important as no one wants the power to cut to their engine whilst driving!

Outside the car.

Your engine isn't the only part of your van that has parts that need regular checking and maintenance. Lights need to be checked regularly not only for your own safety but also for legal reasons. Windscreen wipers can get worn down and will need replacing, many people leave checking them and only find out how worn down they are as they are about to travel in rain. They are very easy to replace and it's often wise to keep spares in case of emergency.

Van tyres are very important to check as they not only provide safety whilst driving but they can also give tell tale signs that wheels are unbalanced. Should your tyre balance be incorrect it can lead to a lot more expense as they are more likely to wear down faster.

One last item to check is your windscreen washer level, ensuring that you can clean your windows properly and give you proper viewing distance at the touch of a button can be very important.

It is also wise to make sure that your van is serviced each year by an authorised dealer not only will this help your van to stay in tip top condition but also will help when you decide to sell the van. A good service history is a very important factor when buying any kind of vehicle.