Articles by Graham Smith

...to make sure there is enough to keep it running smoothly and efficiently until the next service.We prefer to leave that to the mechanic when we take the car in for its next service, but with service intervals extending out to 10,000 km and more in some cases that next service could be a year or more away.Checking the engine oil should be part of a regular routine we carry out every month or so to make sure all is well with our car. It's simple to do, it doesn't take long, and anyone can do it.To start with, make sure the car is parked on level ground.Then, open the bonnet, and with the owner's manual in hand identify the oil dipstick and the oil filler cap. Having done that, start the engine and allow it to warm up to its normal operating temperature.Once it's warmed-up, turn the engine off for a few minutes to allow the oil to drain back into the sump. Having done that, remove the oil dipstick, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.Pull it out again and check the level, which should be between the F (Full) and L (Low) marks. If it is all is well and you can confidently drive on until it's time to check it again.If the level is at or near the L (Low) mark you need to add some oil to bring it up to the F (Full) mark. To do that remove the oil filler cap and slowly pour oil in using a funnel to avoid spillage until the level reaches the F (Full) mark.Don't simply pour the oil in, regularly stop and check the level, so that you don't overfill the engine. At each check let the car sit for a short time before checking with the dipstick to let the oil you've just added work its way into the sump.It's important to use the oil recommended by the carmaker, and to find that refer to the owners manual.

We choose the colour of our car based on how it looks when we see it sitting in the dealer's showroom, but rarely do we think about how we're going keep it looking good.There it sits, perfectly clean and shining brightly, but how will it look after a few months on the road after it's been rained on, pelted with hail, buried in snow, sprayed with dust and tar, covered in dirt and grime, and crashed into at the supermarket.The time to think about that is before you buy it.Here are some tips:1. Colours that contain a lot of pearl or are heavy in metallic flake can be very difficult to match in the event of a fender-bender. If you've got your heart set on such a colour buy a car that has been painted in a premium quality paint, like Glasurit, Speis-Hecker, or Standox, as they have the most accurate refinishing formulas for matching the factory colours.2. Don't buy black, unless you like washing your car. Black cars are very hard to keep clean, whereas silver, white and champagne stand up well and don't require as much work to keep clean.3. Don't get sucked into buying a paint protection product the dealer tells you will keep your paint pristine for the life of the car, they don't work and they're a waste of money. The only thing they do is line the pockets of the dealers and salespeople who sell it to you.4. Do wash your car regularly using fresh water only, and dry it with a chamois.5. Don't use soap or geenral purpose detergent when washing your car, unless it's very dirty, and then only use a very small amount.6. Avoid parking under trees or power lines. Trees will leave sap deposits on your car, while birds love to perch on power lines and poop on your pride and joy.7. If you do find deposits on your car remove them as soon as possible. The longer you leave them the harder it will be to remove them and the greater the chance of your paint being damaged. Bird poo will eat into your paint if not removed.8. Wax your car every six months with a good quality carnauba wax, one that is hard to apply and hard to remove.9. Cars left parked in the street will need to be waxed even more frequently to maintain the shine.

So important has the race become to our carmakers over the years that they have, at various times, created and built a number of special "Bathurst" models.Some, like the classic Holden Monaros and the Falcon GTHOs, have been specifically built to enhance their chances of winning the races, others, like the anniversary Ford GTs, have been builtto celebrate success in the great race.Whatever the reason is these models have become highly prized by enthusiasts and collectors, with the result that their prices have climbed to unthinkable levels in response to the demand.Buying one of these classics is full of pitfalls and requires careful and thorough research before you hand over your hard earned cash. Like any collectable provenance is important, so the first thing to establish is that the car you are considering is genuine. Lots of replica GTs, GTHOs, GTS Monaros, and XU-1 Toranas and others have been built over the years. Some are accurate replicas; others don't even come close to being authentic.No matter whether they are accurate or not, they are not worth as much as the real thing. Check the ID on the car's build plate, check also the numbers that are stamped on various parts of the body and make sure they tally with the ID plate.Consult the relevant carmaker to check that the numbers on the carare correct for that particular model. It's also wise to talk to an acknowledged expert in the model you're interested in buying to find out the critical things you need to look for in a genuine car.Car clubs are a great place to find the expert you need to advise you, so too are the many companies around the land that specialise in restoring these cars.

Before you hit the road on the trip of a lifetime in your new SUV towing your new caravan it's best to bone up on how to safely load your caravan so your dream drive doesn't end up a nightmare from hell.Start by finding out what your car will safely tow. All carmakers publish the maximum towing load their cars will haul down the highway.Remember, that load is the total load, not just the weight of the caravan or trailer. You also have to factor in everything you plan to load into the caravan or trailer, which can easily put you over the maximum towing load if you're not careful.You also have to be careful not to exceed the maximum towball weight. That's the weight bearing down on the towball, and it's generally about 10 percent of the total weight of the caravan or trailer when loaded.Too much weight on the towball puts too much weight on the rear wheels and not enough on the front, which can effect the steering, braking and road holding and make the car and caravan hard to control.It pays to check the ball weight for your car as it does vary from car to car. You'll find it in your owner's manual. Australian caravans are generally designed to have a towball weight of between eight and 15 per cent of the caravan's weight. Modern caravans have the ball weight stamped on the trailer plate that is fitted to each unit.Loading the caravan can affect the ball weight. Place heavy items over the axle and not at the extremes of the caravan or trailer.It's a good idea to load your caravan and trailer a week or two before to leave on your trip, so you know all is well when you do hit the road. Set the vehicle and caravan up the way you plan to have it on your trip and head to the nearest weighbridge where you will be able to weigh the caravan and also check the towball weight by measuring the load on the jockey wheel.

... for the coming hot weather once summer arrives and our thoughts turn to the long drives to our summer holiday destinations.The last thing we want is to be stuck roadside with steam gushing from an overheated engine and the family quietly fuming away beside us. It's worth taking a few minutes to check the car to make sure everything is in good shape for the hot road ahead.Long distances, with a load in tow, mean our tyres will come under increased pressure to stand up. Start by checking the tread depth to make sure there's plenty of tread to move water away from the tyre contact patch should we get caught in a sudden summer downpour.At the same time look for any uneven tyre wear across the tread face, carefully examining the shoulders of the tyre for excessive wear that might indicate a suspension alignment issue that needs to be addressed.While you're at it check the spare tyre and make sure it's ready to go in the event you have a puncture on the way. Many cars today have temporary use spares, or even run-flat tyres, so it's worth reading up on the limitations of them before you hit the road. That way you will know what to do if you have to fit one on your journey.Summer also means higher temperatures and that puts higher stress on our engines and transmissions, stress that is made even higher if we're towing. Servicing both the engine and transmission will help avoid the breakdowns and delays that can ruin our holidays.Pay particular attention to the cooling system. Make sure it's topped up with the correct coolant, not water, and check for leaks. Most cars are fitted with thermostatically controlled cooling fans that come on at a predetermined temperature to keep the engine from overheating. It's worth checking that it is operating correctly.Take the time to clean bugs and anything else that's accumulated on the radiator so the radiator can work at its most efficient, and check for leaks.

Selling a used car can be a traumatic experience, there are rules to be complied with, roadworthy checks to be done, cars have to be prepared to look their best, advertisements have to be placed, and

Selling a car in NSW is simple. There are only a few things you are required to do to transfer the registration of a used car to the new owner.

How to sell a car in South Australia

How to sell a car in ACT

The rules set down by the WA government that a private owner must comply with when selling a used a car are few.