Carvendo

Your car is more than just a means of transportation — it's often your daily partner who takes you from A to B safely and reliably. Yet many people forget how important regular maintenance is. Not only to prevent unexpected breakdowns, but also to extend the life of your car and save unnecessary costs. In this blog, we'll take you through the most important maintenance tips so that your car stays in top condition and you can hit the road without worries.

At Carvendo, we often see it: cars that still look good on paper, but suddenly cause high costs or even come to a standstill due to overdue maintenance. And that's a shame, because many problems can easily be prevented with the right attention at the right time. A car that is well maintained not only feels nicer and safer, but also retains its value better. In this blog, we share from our experience what you really need to pay attention to, so you can keep driving carefree and avoid unpleasant surprises.

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Motor oil: the lifeblood of your car

One of the most important things to check regularly is the engine oil. Not only the level is important, but also the quality of the oil. This is because oil creates a protective film between the moving parts in your engine, so that they can move without damage. As soon as this effect disappears, wear and tear increases rapidly.

How do you check that? When you gauge the oil, check not only if there is enough oil in it, but also what it looks like. If the oil is watery and pitch black, this is usually a sign that the oil is old and no longer working properly.

Do you need to refill oil? Do this step by step: always add a little bit instead of a whole liter. This prevents you from getting too much oil into your engine.

If you drive a modern car without a dipstick, you are dependent on a sensor that transmits the oil level (and sometimes quality) to your display. Handy, but not always 100% reliable. That's why you should also listen carefully to your motorcycle. If he runs a bit restlessly or if you hear a rattling when you start cold, this may indicate that the oil level is too low.

Please also note the manufacturer's prescribed drain intervals. Some brands recommend 30,000 km or 2 years, but in practice, this often turns out to be too long. Changing oil regularly is simply the best way to extend the life of your engine. And did you know that some engines use a little bit of oil as standard? If you never check that, you run the risk of driving around unnoticed with far too little oil — and that can cause major damage.

In short: keep an eye on your oil, check both level and quality, refill slowly, and prefer to change a little more often than not enough. Your bike will thank you for it.

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Tyres: the only contact with the road

Many drivers forget it, but your tires are literally the only point of contact between your car and the road. That is precisely why it is important to take good care of it. A simple check can make all the difference between driving safely and economically or taking unnecessary risks.

Start with tire pressure. Make sure that the pressure is always within the manufacturer's specifications. This is especially crucial for long journeys. If you drive with tires that are too soft, they wear out faster, your car uses more fuel and you have less grip.

Also pay attention to the quality of the tires you install. If you have a fast, powerful car, choose a tire that can handle that performance. In this case, cheap is often expensive, because a wrong or inferior tire can be dangerous.

Check the condition of your tires regularly. A blue color on the cheek means that the tire has been far too hot - often due to incorrect tire pressure or hard driving. A bulge on the side usually occurs when you have driven into a curb: this is a sign that the canvas is damaged. Never keep driving with this, because this is extremely dangerous.

In addition, sufficient profile is important. Below 3 mm, the grip decreases sharply, especially in rainy weather. You can still get away with it in the summer, but as soon as autumn comes and the roads are wet and dark, you really want more profile for safe water drainage.

Then the choice: summer tires, winter tires or all-season tires?

Winter tires are recommended as soon as the temperature drops below 7 degrees. Your braking distance is getting shorter and you have much more grip. Heading to the Alps? Then winter tires are often mandatory, and without them, you are automatically to blame in the event of an accident.
All-season tires are getting better and are useful if you don't want to change every time, but it's still a compromise. They are never as good in the winter as a real winter tire, nor as efficient in the summer as a summer tire.

In short: tires may not be a sexy topic, but they are your most important safety feature. With the right pressure, plenty of profile and the right choice between summer, winter or all-season tires, you can make sure your car does what you expect it to do — in every situation.

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Brakes: Your Most Important Safety Line

As a motorist, you can't do much about your brakes yourself, but there are a few simple checks you can do regularly. With a good flashlight, you can often see how thick your brake pads still are. Do you see that the brake disc has a big 'lip' on the outside? Then that's a clear sign that the drive is already wearing out — or maybe even worn out.

In daily traffic, you may not immediately notice much with worn brake discs. But as soon as you put a heavier load on the car, for example during a vacation with luggage or in an emergency situation where you have to brake hard, it can become dangerous. A brake disc that is too thin heats up much faster. In addition, if the brake oil is old, it can boil. This creates air bubbles in the system, and then you suddenly press your brake pedal to the bottom without much happening. You definitely want to prevent that.

What you can do yourself is clean your brake calipers and rims regularly. Brake dust is very aggressive and can even affect your beautiful alloy wheels in the long run. A good wheel cleaner works wonders here.

If you want to improve your brakes because you're not completely satisfied with the standard performance, there are many options. People often start with better brake pads, such as EBC Greenstuff, that not only provide more braking power but also produce less brake dust. Then you can opt for ventilated or perforated brake discs, which deal better with heat. For real enthusiasts, upgrades are even possible to multi-piston calipers, such as Brembo.

Note: such upgrades are not always necessary, and it is often smart to discuss this with a garage. Ultimately, what matters is that your brakes work reliably when it really matters — and that can literally be vitally important.

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Coolant: keep your engine cold and healthy

Coolant may seem like a small detail, but in reality, it's one of the most important fluids in your car. Without good coolant, the temperature of your engine rises very quickly and serious damage can occur. The great thing is: you can easily keep an eye on this yourself.

In the engine compartment, you will find a coolant reservoir with clear minimum and maximum markings. Always check when the engine is cold so that the liquid has cooled and you can read a reliable level. Sounds logical, but sometimes things go wrong: there are plenty of examples of people accidentally pouring coolant into the engine oil. Then there is nothing left but to go straight to the garage to have both fluids replaced. So: always make sure you refill in the right reservoir.

If you need to refill, use the correct coolant. That not only means the right color, but also, above all, the right specification associated with your motorcycle. Mixing the wrong types or continuing to drive with old coolant can have serious consequences.

Imagine: you are going to the south of France with the family, in a good mood and with the roof box on the roof. And then, in the middle of the Autoroute, things go wrong: a boiling motorcycle and you and your whole family on the emergency lane. Not only extremely annoying, but also dangerous and usually an expensive joke.

The problem is often in obsolete coolant. Over time, it loses its protective properties. Parts such as the water pump and radiator therefore wear out faster. The radiator can even pollute internally, so that the cooling capacity is sometimes only a third of what it should be. The result: your engine is running too hot and you run an unnecessary risk of major engine damage.

In short: coolant isn't a detail, it's literally your motorcycle's life insurance. Check the level from time to time, always refill with the right type and change the liquid on time. It only takes a few minutes, but can save you a lot of stress and costs — and lets you hit the road without worries.

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The battery: small part, big Importance

A battery may seem like just a simple battery, but you won't get anywhere without a healthy battery. And just because you can't do much about it yourself, it's smart to use it wisely.

The battery gets tough, especially in the winter. At cold starts, he has to work much harder, while modern cars are also equipped with a variety of energy-saving techniques. For example, the alternator often only switches on a little later, to limit emissions. If you turn on all kinds of large power consumers immediately after starting - such as seat heating, rear window heating and ventilation - you will slowly drain the battery. The result: at some point, your car no longer wants to start, or it shuts down systems to save tension.

A simple tip: Wait a while with all the power guzzlers until the engine has run a few kilometers and is up to temperature. This relieves the battery considerably.

Do you want to extend the life of your battery? From time to time, hang it on a trickle charger (for example from CTEK). This way, the battery is quietly fully recharged without damage. You'll find that your car starts much easier in the morning.

Also check the battery yourself from time to time. Are the poles clean? Dirt or corrosion can significantly interfere with the operation, causing your car to start worse and drain the battery more quickly. Just cleaning can make a lot of difference.

Finally: on some cars, the battery installed as standard is actually on the light side. In such cases, it can be smart to opt for a heavier battery. It lasts longer and prevents you from needing a new one early.

In short: a battery may not be exciting, but it is crucial. With a little attention — use power consumption wisely, charge occasionally and keep the terminals clean — you can prevent many problems and costs.

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Windshield wipers and windshield fluid: seeing is driving safely

You will notice worn windshield wipers immediately. They leave streaks, do not drain water properly and significantly reduce your vision. And less visibility simply means less safety.

Fortunately, the wipers have improved significantly in recent years. Modern flatblade windshield wipers erase much better than old-fashioned standard wipers. They are less sensitive to wind and also do an excellent job at high speeds. Are your wipers worn out? Then always replace them with a quality brand, such as Bosch or Valeo. And pay close attention to the right size — otherwise you run the risk of them touching parts of the paint or window pillars.

A clean windshield helps your windshield wipers work even better. For example, treat your window with a product such as Glaco or RainX. This not only makes the windshield spotless, but also water resistant. You'll notice the effect immediately: rain flows off the window faster, often so good that you hardly need your wipers. In addition, ice and frost adhere less quickly, which saves a lot of scratching in the winter.

Don't forget the windshield washer fluid either. It is useful to wash away flies and dirt thoroughly in the summer, but it is really crucial in the winter. A good winter liquid does not just freeze and helps you keep the window clean of brine and road salt. That grey film created by salt can completely take away your vision — and of course you want to prevent that. So make sure you always have enough liquid with you and refill in time. This is easily available at most petrol stations.

In short: fresh windshield wipers, a clean windshield and plenty of spray fluid make the difference between driving by feeling or driving with really good visibility. And good visibility means safer on the road.

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Conclusion: Maintenance that keeps you and your car happy

Car maintenance isn't something you “do on the side” — it's the key to safety, reliability and fun on the road. Whether it's engine oil, tire pressure, brakes, coolant, battery or windshield wipers, each component plays a role in how your car performs and how safely you drive.

A little attention can already prevent a lot of problems: checking oil regularly extends the life of your engine, the right tire pressure saves fuel and increases grip, well-functioning brakes can literally save lives, and a clean windshield with plenty of washer fluid ensures you keep seeing it all — no matter the weather.

At Carvendo, we believe that maintenance should above all be practical, understandable and doable. You don't need to be a technician to take good care of your car; a few minutes a week and smart choices when it comes to refilling or replacing parts make a world of difference.

In short: those who check regularly, take small signals seriously and do preventive maintenance not only drive safer, but also save time and money in the long term. Because a well-maintained car is not only reliable, it also provides more driving pleasure — which is ultimately what Carvendo is all about.

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