Preventive Maintenance and Basic Vehicle Inspection
This domain tests scheduled servicing, daily checks, fluid specifications, and documenting condition before a failure occurs.
Core rules
- Daily or pre-drive: engine oil, coolant, brake and clutch fluid, power steering fluid, washer fluid, belts, hoses, tires, and lights.
- Oil level: engine off and level, wait a few minutes, read between MIN and MAX; never overfill.
- Tire pressure: cold, placard value, including the spare; check tread depth and uneven wear.
- Battery: check terminals, hold-down, and electrolyte level on serviceable types.
- Follow the PMS matrix by kilometre or month, whichever comes first, and record every item.
- Use the specified fluid: coolant type, DOT brake fluid, and the correct oil viscosity and API rating.
Worked example
A customer reports a tire at 34 psi; the placard says 30 psi cold, and the car was driven 20 km. Reasoning: driving raises pressure by roughly 3–5 psi, so the hot reading is not the setting value. Let the tire cool, set it to 30 psi cold, then check for a puncture or leaking valve. Do not bleed a hot tire down to 30 psi - it will be underinflated when cold.
Traps
Checking oil immediately after shutdown; mixing coolant types; topping up with the wrong DOT fluid; ignoring the spare; resetting the service light without doing the service; skipping the underbody and brake inspection.