When it comes to saving yourself some money, looking after your car is one way that you can make a big difference.

Simple regular checks can make all the difference in the long run preventing big bills at the mechanics.

One simple thing that any motorist can do is to keep an eye on essential fluid levels. The two which are essential to your car's wellbeing are your engine oil and coolant.

To check the engine oil make sure your car is level and turn off the engine. You need to wait for a while to let the oil settle before you check the level, about five to 10 minutes will suffice. Pull the dipstick out, check your manual if you don't know where it is.

Wipe it off with a clean rag or tissue and then insert it back all the way down into place. Pull it out again and check the oil level. It should be at the point marked full, or between two notches marked on the stick. Don't worry of it's a bit low, simply top up.

When checking the level have a look at the oil itself to make sure it is clean and smooth. The blacker it is, the dirtier it is. It should be transparent and a brownish colour, if it has turned black it's time to get the oil changed. If it is any other colour than brown or black there is something leaking into it and you should get the car seen to as soon as possible.

If you need to top up, the most important thing is to make sure you use the right type of oils for your vehicle. If you can, add the same type of oil that is already in the engine. Add a little oil, bit by bit and give it a minute or so to go down, then check the level again. Do this until it reaches the full mark.

Low coolant levels will cause the engine to overheat which can have catastrophic results. Firstly, NEVER open the radiator cap when the engine is hot. It can be forced off by the pressure in the radiator causing serious injury or burns.

The level should be between the low and full indicators on the overflow tank, check your manual to locate it on your car. If it's low simply top it up to the full level but make sure the engine has cooled down before you do so.

If there is no coolant in the overflow tank or you have to top it up regularly you need to get the car seen to, as there is probably a leak. If you notice that the radiator is leaking, you can purchase internal filler solution that may fix the problem. Simply pour it into the radiator and run the engine for a while and the solution may plug the gap.

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