Mechanic reveals the car mistakes every driver makes – and why they could cost you thousands
Talal Almasri, 42, is a Sydney-based mobile mechanic who has been in the game for 15 years.
Mr Almasri said he has seen the same mistakes repeated by hundreds of motorists - including letting their fuel tanks run low.
ALL ABOUT FUEL
'It's recommended you don't let your fuel tank get to less than a quarter full,' Mr Almasri told Daily Mail.
'All the dirt at the bottom of the fuel tank will go through the system and cause damage to the fuel pump.
'Every car will always have that bit of dirt sitting at the bottom of the tank - mostly from low-quality fuel.
'Also, if you have a quarter of fuel in the tank, the pump will not overheat. It works harder when there's not enough fuel.'
Those low-quality fuels include E10 and Unleaded 91.
'If you fill up with 91, for example, it's cheaper but you will not get the kilometres you would usually get out of a 98 fuel tank,' Mr Almasri said.
'There's no harm in switching fuels, it's better for your car. If you are using the low-quality stuff, you can put Unleaded 98 in once in a while and it'll clean out the system a bit better.'
If you are guilty of letting your fuel run low, Mr Almasri warned against trusting the estimated kilometres left in a tank.
'Your dashboard might say you've got 50km left but you'll probably break down before then,' he said.
'It's not accurate, it's an estimate.
'I've been to Airtasker jobs for people who've broken down on the freeway or street and needed someone to bring them some fuel.'
KEEPING UP WITH SERVICES
Mr Almasri said drivers should ensure their car is being serviced on time.
'It's the number one important thing to keep your car long-term. Maintenance is the key,' he said.
'People are leaving servicing too late. It's supposed to be every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
'If you do a long distance drive around Australia and you do 10,000km in a week, you need to change the oil in the week because you've done the 10,000km.
'If your car sits and you only use it once a week, you need to get it serviced in six months, even if it hasn't done 10,000km, because the oil gets old.'
As for how long owners can leave a service after it's due, the mechanic warned there's no 'safe' amount.
'There's no guarantee because each engine is different. The more you leave it, the more at risk you run of getting a failure in the engine,' Mr Almasri said.
'All that old oil will sludge up. Repairs are very expensive.'
COLD STARTS
Mr Almasri's next tip was aimed at those guilty of driving off in a hurry, particularly in winter.
'You should let your engine warm up in the cold months because the oil needs to lubricate the motor,' he said.
'It's not good to jump in and quickly accelerate. That will just wear the pistons inside the motor. You've got to give it a bit of a warm up before you drive.'
MAINTAINING TYRES
Another essential maintenance step often overlooked is tyre care.
'Driving with underinflated or overinflated tyres reduces fuel efficiency and causes uneven wear,' Mr Almasri said.
'Many drivers rely on the number printed on the tyre that may be outdated instead of the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
'Failing to rotate tires and check alignment can also affect handling and suspension.'
CLEANING YOUR CAR
Mr Almasri's final warning was to motorists who don't clean their cars for long periods of time.
'Dirt, road salt and grime buildup can cause rust, especially in the undercarriage and wheel wells,' he said.
'Long-term corrosion compromises structural integrity as well as parts like brake lines or the exhaust system.'
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