Tyre Pressure Gauge

molerat

The oil cap sometimes has "7I0" marked on it

wannabe_sybil

Thank you so much for the links. I really appreciate it and I shall now do some reading.

To be fair, OH is having a hard time, and he is really not mechanically minded. I should have realised, and I am extremely nervous but willing to look into it all.

fivetide

don't worry! these days it's all colour coded anyway and the majority of most engines is covered up.

If it has a yellow top, chances are it is something to check. Oil will be very obvious I'd think (although I don't know your car's exact layout)

5t.

supermanjo

To check tyre pressure, go to any petrol station and get the air-hose and stick it into to the tyre and it should give you a reading on its screen! I have also seen keyring gauges at halfords for £4.99 I think.

Here's a good tip in getting an old tired car moving again!

Full Service + An Italian Tune-up!!

airfilter, oil filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, fully synthetic oil and brake fluid. = £80 TOPS! (plus labour)

Then, put in half of tank of V-Power (petrol/diesel) and put in half a bottle of FOTRE injector cleaner (check to suit) followed by a 15 minute Italian tune-up and bobs your uncle!

Squiggybank

Have a look in the glove box to see if you have manufactures guide book and the tyre pressure will be in there. Or look on the inside sill(?) of the drivers door well for a sticker which may have the pressure on it.

You can check the pressure at a petrol station you pop in what it should be eg 32psi etc and it will pump them to that pressure and beep when it reaches it - but as you don't drive I guess you would have to get your OH to do it when he fills up with fuel.

You should do it when the tyres are cool and not hot.

Knowing how to check is now part of the driving test, in fact I was asked that question.

Good luck with it.

wannabe_sybil

I really appreciate all the help - it has at least given me a bit more confidence.

Are there any differences in Tyre gauges? There seem to be lots 'calibrated to 75psi' and others calibrated to 100psi - are both okay?

I can't drive so can't get the car to a garage to use the air. Do tyres need special air? I don't want to ask our neighbour if they do, as he is so good, and I don't want to cause him too much trouble, but I know he wouldn't mind helping out with his compressor.

What's an Italian tune up?

fivetide

No they don't need anythign special.

You can get a decent one from Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7404874.htm

You might even find one cheaper but a decent one is better (too cheap and you'll buy another)

Easy to operate and you can store it in the car.

Italian tune up is simply putting the foot to the floor and booting it up and down the motorway a bit. I suspect the poster was waiting for the question to be asked however, a good run really is beneficial to a car. They don;t like driving round twon all the time.

Decent oil swap and filters etc should see you fine. Then, combine it with the MOT. Not always MSE but nothing wrong with an oil swap every 12 months and the car would be going to a garage anyway.

5t.

mikey72

There's a lot of fillers and tops under the bonnet, and it's easy to mix them up.
It's also very easy to let all the air out the tyre by accident when checking the pressure.

Can you ask your neighbour to run through them all with you?
If you have the Ford handbook, or the Haynes manual, it'll remind you next time you do it by yourself.

If you buy him a bottle of scotch (or similar) as a thank you, both of you should be winners.

Sgt_Pepper_2

mikey72 wrote: »

It's also very easy to let all the air out the tyre by accident when checking the pressure.

Is it?

Takes some effort to get all the air out of a type.

supermanjo

fivetide wrote: »

Italian tune up is simply putting the foot to the floor and booting it up and down the motorway a bit. I suspect the poster was waiting for the question to be asked however, a good run really is beneficial to a car. They don;t like driving round twon all the time.

Not really. An Italian tune-up is bringing the car’s revs to just below red-line and keeping it there for a bit.

With my car on a dual-carriage way I leave it in second gear @ 50mph / 5,500RPM's or third gear @ 70mph 5,000RPM down the motorway. I could do 70 in second but that would be on red and the stress/wear applied to second gear wouldn't be worth it.

As I said, a FULL service is what the car needs, especially if its been doing town trips for years, doing an Italian tune-up on an old car that hasn't been serviced in a while is not a wise thing to do. However, doing it once a month after a service would be fine!

@OP Don't forget to bottle up some FOTRE along with V-Power!