Just like people who require vitamins and regular check-ups to stay healthy, vehicles also need regular repair and maintenance to run properly. The repair costs depend on the make and model of the car.

It is essential to schedule these check-ups and repairs with auto repair shops and certified technicians to get the car serviced and diagnosed if there are any problems.

Keep in mind, before choosing a repair shop to handle the maintenance and repair of the car to check other shops for price and feedback from their customers.

When you decide on a certain motor repair shop, be prepared for the different procedures and steps needed to be done when problems are found upon check up. Here are some of these procedures and automotive repair costs:

Oil Change

This must be done on schedule, if you are unaware of the oil change requirements, check the owner’s manual since manufacturers usually print the timescales there. Oil changes are usually done every twelve to eighteen months. The miles can also be used as a basis for oil change, the common oil change schedule for this basis is every 12,000 to 18,000 miles.

For modern models, a warning system is available telling the owner that the oil needs to be changed. The cost of an oil change starts at £30 and above, this depends on the type of vehicle. For more expensive, specialist and foreign vehicles like Mercedes, the cost of the oil change can even reach up to £220.

Tyres

When speaking of vehicles, the most abused and punished parts are the tyres. Over time and with continuous use, the road and debris wear them out. When the time comes that tread has worn down and you’ll need replacements, hundreds of pounds is the likely total for replacement for all four wheels.

Aside from replacement, there are other ways to repair damaged tyres without spending too much. One way is by repairing punctures. That’s not going to be much help with worn tread though.

A great tip to avoid this cost cropping up too often  is to rotate the tires periodically. Some garages offer free tyre rotation if they were purchased from them. Therefore, ask your mechanic if they offer this service to avoid wearing out them down earlier.

Battery

Almost everyone who has a vehicle can say they have had a dead battery problem from time to time. The life span of batteries can last for around three to five years. However, one must understand that these kinds of batteries cannot be recharged; these must be replaced when their time has come. To lengthen the life span of your battery, make sure to regularly clean it.

When the need to replace the vehicle’s battery has come, the owner must be prepared to shell out around £45 to £90 or more. The cost can go up depending on the type of battery the vehicle requires.

Coolant System

What is this system? When speaking of the coolant system, this includes the water pump, thermostat, radiator, water as well as the anti-freeze system that runs through the radiator and into the engine. Like oil, the coolant also needs to be changed regularly. This is because the coolant breaks down and becomes ineffective over time.

Overheating can be prevented when fluids are flushed out of the radiator and the correct level of coolant is placed. Basing on the miles system, for every 24,000 to 36,000 miles travelled the coolant needs to be flushed. This may also depend on the model of the car. The cost of this maintenance is around £50 to £145 if there are no other issues.

Tune Up

Regular tune up helps prevent motoring problems in the future. Spark plugs are checked, cleaned and tested to ensure proper functioning. A tune up can cost around £35 and up.

These are just some of the repair costs that must be considered to prevent more complicated problems occurring in the future.

Driving is a big responsibility – I remember my late grandmother telling me that when you’re on the road you remember that you’re driving a lethal machine. Of course she was correct, you only have to look at the local news bulletins to see the tragic stories of lives cut short on Britain’s roads.

When accidents happen, they tend to fall into one of three groups – poor driving where insufficient care and attention has been present – whether that’s reckless or a momentary distraction. The second group is poor maintenance, such as bald tyres, lack or regular maintenance checks or even being unroadworthy such as not following the law with MOT testing. Finally there are the genuine accidents – things that happen that could never have been foreseen.

Are Accidents Really Accidents?

It’s been said that there’s no such thing as a true accident but I don’t believe that. It’s undoubtedly the case, though, that the majority of road traffic accidents come as a direct result of one of the first two groups.

Avoiding the first subset is purely down to the driver and their ability – not driving while tired is a great start. Certainly avoiding getting behind the wheel when you’re under the influence of alcohol or other drugs goes without saying too. Lastly, driver error can be caused by distractions inside the car – taking simple precautions like turning off mobile phones ahead of departure and not getting into complex conversations with passengers are all wise.

Keeping On Top Of Vehicle Maintenance

So, that leaves the middle group – good vehicle maintenance. A responsible driver should regularly complete simple checks to make sure their car is roadworthy – simple things like refilling the washer bottle and checking tyre tread and pressures.

Use The Right Products

Generally speaking, windscreen washer liquid should be proper screenwash, not fairy liquid or other dishwashing products. Using the wrong product could mean smearing, or worse still foam obscuring your view. After all, dishwashing liquids are marketed for their bubbles, not great on the motorway in your line of sight!

A Quick Tip And Trick

Tyre tread can be easily checked with a 20p coin – it’s not the most scientific, but inserting the side of a 20p into the tyre tread and making sure its deeper than the border of the coin gives you a good ballpark check. If it’s close, take your vehicle to be professionally checked, and get new tyres if they’re close or on the edge of legal.

Best Tyre Inflator Options

Tyre pressures can be checked when you fill up with fuel – virtually every garage has an air machine available for a small fee. Consider buying a car tyre inflator too – you can see some good choices along with reviews here. They’ll allow you to not only check your tyres anywhere you can safely pull over or park, but add extra air if needed too. Don’t forget that a fully loaded car typically needs more air in the tyres than a car with just a driver – very few people seem to know that.

Learn What You Need To Know

Of course, there’s plenty more to car maintenance too. Checking oil, regular cleaning and topping up the coolant are just a few that you’ll need to know how to do, so if you don’t know how, ask next time you’re in the garage for a demonstration – your local mechanic will likely be more than happy to show you around under the bonnet!

Giant birds do exist! They just don’t take flight anymore. Ostriches are long necked, long legged “giant” birds and are the largest living species of birds in the world. These amazing creatures can run 40 miles per hour, grow up to eight feet tall and live to be over 50 years old!

The farming of Ostriches is found all over the world. Ostriches are farmed for a few different reasons, one of which might not sit well for vegetarians: ostrich meat is considered a healthy red meat. Ostrich meat is low fat, low calorie, low cholesterol and a healthier choice to red and white meat from cows and chickens.

Not only are ostrich feathers very desirable, the bird’s leather is soft, supple and strong—more so than other leather products. This leather is recognized for its distinctive quill patterns. The majority of ostrich farming revenue will come from leather production and ostrich meat.

While ostrich feathers and ostrich oil can be sold as products, in order to make just one complete order, many livestock are required. Given the number of livestock it takes to fill the demand of oil and feather products, it is hard to make a lot of money focusing on just this type of ostrich farming.

Ostriches are very fertile birds and can produce about 40 offspring annually. Given that the bird’s gestation period is about 42 days and that ostriches can be bred for over 30 years, it’s little wonder ostrich farming is seen as a promising industry—perhaps an even more lucrative opportunity than farming cattle.

Ostriches can breed in pairs, in trios or in colonies. A male ostrich can offer services to 2 or 3 females with ease while the females lays eggs in clutches and on a regular basis. The female will lay eggs for a period of time and then take a break before resuming.

Another development that has been taking place is the creation of environmentally friendly ostrich farming. The farming practices are kinder to the animal and friendly to the environment. There are no steroids, antibiotics, or hormones used nor are animals force-fed against their will. Ostriches are free roaming and eat natural ostrich food. While the birds in ostrich farming are still slaughtered and sold as products, some animal rights groups appreciate the difference in farm practices. Especially compared to how rough chickens and cows have it on typical commercial farms.

Problems associated with ostrich farming include farmers feeding the birds poorly or improperly and finding cheap feed. Marketing is also a problem, as many farmers don’t know how to sell ostrich products.

These are amazing animals whether you love learning and watching them or as a productive alternative to cattle farming. Ostrich farming is a fascinating and lucrative industry.