GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

An engine is the core of our car, and you would want it to be in perfect shape every time you turn on its ignition. An engine tune-up consists of checking, diagnosing, and fixing minor problems that come up in the engine with regular usage of the car. This process includes checking the spark plugs, wires, distributor caps, air filters, oil filters, fuel filters and wiring, etc.

Regular engine tune-up helps extend your car's life and increase its efficiency. Let's understand how you can get your car's engine tune-up done.

When do you need a tune-up?

The odometer is the first and foremost thing that can tell us that your car's engine needs a tune-up. If your car has completed the minimum number of kilometres specified by the vehicle manufacturer, after which an engine tune-up becomes due.

Other signs that can indicate that an engine tune-up is required are lack of power and pick-up, decreased fuel mileage, erratic running, problem in starting, malfunctioning lights flashing on the dashboard, etc.

How can you get your car's engine tune-up done?

You should always go to an authorised service centre recommended by your car manufacturer for an engine tune-up. Any outside service provider or mechanic should never do your car's engine tune-up, as it may null and void the engine warranty.

The basic steps for an engine tune-up are as follows:

1. Replacing plugs and wires:
The first step in an engine tune-up is thoroughly checking the ignition system and its functioning. The spark plugs, coils, plugs, wires, and any other electrical part that helps in the car ignition are to be inspected.
For example, ignition wires can break down or wear out with usage. It can result in misfiring, performance loss, rough idling, and, eventually, making your car cylinder dead. Similarly, we need to check whether the ignition coils are in good shape and working properly. It can also lead to engine misfiring, poor acceleration, low fuel mileage, etc.

2. Filter change:
There are various types of car filters, such as oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, and cabin filters. Timely cleaning of filters is essential for improving engine performance and efficiency. If the filters are dirty, the engine will toil hard to get the required air, fuel, or oil, thus making it choked and perform poorly.

3. Belts and hoses:
All hoses need to be checked as they transfer vital fluids across the engine. Any disruption in the hoses will result in engine malfunction. Similarly, we need to check various belts that help the engine to run efficiently as they wear down, turn brittle, crack and eventually break with time and usage.

4. Right liquids:
For a car engine to perform perfectly, it needs a variety of fluids in perfect proportion, such as engine oil, coolant, brake fluids, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, etc. There is a regular change interval for each of the fluids. The change also depends on your car usage.

If you use your car regularly and run around a lot, you will need to change these fluids frequently and vice-versa. If you do not change these fluids timely, they can lead to engine malfunction and even breakdown.

Regular and timely engine tune-up is very important for keeping your car fit. It ensures that your car runs efficiently and its heart- the engine is in perfect shape. It also helps to increase the life of your car.

To address the car's safety, you must purchase a private car insurance India policy. It protects your car from any damage or loss that it may suffer from fire, theft, accidents, natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, etc. It also provides coverage from third-party liabilities. Hence, you must choose the right insurance service provider to provide adequate coverage and protection in times of need.

Click HERE to buy private car insurance India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Cars are almost our second home as we spend 2-3 hours daily commuting in them. Most of us love to go for different types of fancy car accessories available in the market. Accessories make our car ride comfortable and convenient. Also, they add style to the car and make it look sportier and cooler.

But, do you know that a few accessories are mandatory by law, without which you cannot drive on Indian roads and can be fined. Let us explain them to you:

1. High-security number plate:
High-security registration plate or HSRP is mandatory to be used on your car along with the colour-coded sticker that comes with it. We cannot install fancy number plates with fashionable fonts just to make our car look stylish and unique. HSRP has been made mandatory in India from 1st April 2019.
This number plate is made of aluminium and cannot be removed from a vehicle once installed. It also has a unique 10-digit permanent identification number (PIN), so it cannot be cloned or copied. If you do not have an HSRP on your car, you can be fined anywhere between INR 5000 to INR 10000, depending on your state. Also, repeat offenders can be charged a compounding fine of INR 5500.

2. Lights:
You will be surprised to know that there are rules regarding the various types of lights you use in your car. These lights include car headlights, sidelights, tail lights, and registration plate lights. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, functional headlights, sidelights, taillights, and registration plate lights are mandatory.
Non-functioning lights can make you go blind at night, or vehicles approaching from the other side may not see you. In either of the cases, you may meet with an accident. You can be fined if any of these lights are not working properly, as this can be hazardous for you and other vehicles on the road. .

3. Rear and side-view mirrors:
Rear-view mirrors are a mandatory accessory for your car as per sections 5 and 7 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act. You can be fined for not driving with a rear-view mirror. Similarly, police can penalise you if you drive around without side-view mirrors or if they are folded!

4. Horn:
Cars must have an electric horn that can warn other vehicles around them that they are approaching. Driving your car with a faulty horn can attract a fine of INR 500 for the first time and INR 1500 for every subsequent offense. However, the fine amount can vary from one state to another.

5. Wipers:
Wipers are essential because they are the key tools for visibility during heavy rains. Driving without wipers is illegal, and you can be fined for that. If you get stuck in heavy rain without a wiper, you will not be able to see anything in front of you clearly, and there will be a high chance of an accident.

You can have a long list of fancy accessories to make your car stand out from the crowd, however, you should not neglect the above list of mandatory accessories required by law. Travelling without them can attract fines and penalties.

Renewal of motor insurance timely is also mandatory by law. Driving your car for a day after your motor insurance expires is also illegal. Do not delay the renewal, as you can conveniently get online motor insurance renewal without visiting the insurance office. Be safe, be protected.

Click HERE to get the online motor insurance renewal.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

A two-wheeler provides many conveniences and advantages, particularly in terms of time savings. Two-wheelers are becoming increasingly popular as a form of transportation, mainly in urban areas where traffic congestion is the main issue. However, two wheelers are also more inclined to accidents.

If you encounter an accident while riding, make sure to check yourself and your fellow passengers before moving on to the next step. Look for any indications of pain in your body. Check your accessories to see what body parts have touched the ground. You may have been hit in one or more of these body parts if your jacket, pants, shoes, gloves, or helmet have any sign of damage. Before determining the motorcycle's condition, check your physical health.

Sometimes it's impossible to stand the bike back up, and you need assistance. It might have fallen in an odd place, or maybe it's too heavy. Yet again, it's a huge, hefty piece of equipment, so don't feel guilty asking for help.

Make sure it is safe to ride by giving it a quick inspection. Here is the checklist you can follow to know about the damage done.

● Check the fluid levels even if you cannot see anything under the spot where the bike fell over. It might be a case of the coolant splashing out of the reservoir, or the braking fluid reservoir cap coming off. Do not ride the bike if the brake fluid reservoir has air in it, the fluid level is low, or it is leaking. The consequences of having air in your brake lines go far beyond simply dropping your bike.

● Inspect your handlebar and ensure the clutch and brake cables didn't break or bend in a way that will make the bike unsafe. Confirm the foot pedal controls in the same way, assuring the shifter isn't jammed and the rear brake pedal isn't locked or jammed.

● Ensure that the motorcycle starts! Some motorcycles include tip-over sensors, which won't immediately turn back. This can usually be resolved by turning the key on and off.

● If you have a bike with carburettors, the fuel may have leaked out, and you will need to give it a few revolutions to get the gas back into the system.

● The main cause of a motorcycle that won't start after tipping over could be a problem with the gasoline supply, such as too much petrol spilling into the engine cylinders. A broken internal switch or a disconnect in the electronics due to the crash could be present in the motorcycle.

● Sometimes too much fuel from the carburettor might be pumped into the engine cylinders when a motorcycle is knocked over.

● The spark plug's contacts may become wet from the gasoline if too much fuel is put into the cylinders, preventing it from sparking.

A motorcycle has numerous connections that must all work together to turn over. The connection to the battery is one of the most crucial. Over the period, the connection created on a battery becomes brittle because of the rust on it. So, inspect the battery for any faults or loose connections, and once this is fixed, you can start your bike.

Even though a two-wheeler has many advantages, it has a unique set of risks. For starters, the possibility of a surprise collision increases the risk of both the rider and the pillion rider suffering injuries and potential two-wheeler damage. This may result in increased financial hardship.

This then makes sense to buy bike insurance online to avoid adding extra expenses to your budget if something unfortunate happens to your motorcycle. Also, ensure that you have the safety gear and important documents handy before planning your trip. Making the right purchase will handcraft you a safer and more immersive riding experience!

Click HERE to buy bike insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Cat eyes reflectors are also known as road studs or raised pavement markers. They are safety devices installed on the roads and reflect or emit light flashes at night. You can commonly see them on roads or highways while driving. Drivers use them as lane markers to guide vehicles on dark roads.

Cat eyes reflectors reflect light to a light source, such as a car’s headlights. Hence, when driving on a dark patch of road, these reflectors reflect back light to your vehicle. This helps you to identify the sides and centre of the road and minimise the chances of a mishap.

Types of cat eyes reflectors:

There are primarily four types of cat eyes reflectors in use.

1. Plastic:
Reflectors made of plastic are the least durable and not as strong as the other types of reflectors. They are good to use on the sides of bridges and highways.

2. Aluminium:
These reflectors are made of aluminium and hence, are strong enough to withstand the load of heavy vehicles. These have reflective objects installed inside them. They are also ideal to use in the middle of the roads because of their strength and durability.

3. Glass:
You will also spot reflectors made of hardened safety glass. They come with a coating on their bottoms that reflect the light back to the source.

4. LED:
LED cat eyes reflectors are the most advanced as they have solar panels on their tops. This acts as their energy source and helps them to emit blinking light at night. They provide the brightest light and have much better visibility than the above three types of reflectors.

Advantages of cat eyes reflectors:

● Enhanced visibility:
The primary advantage of cat eyes reflectors is to make night driving safe and secure and minimise the chances of accidents. They help to make corners of traffic lanes visible at night and ensure that the drivers do not skid away from the roads, especially at dangerous curves.

● Prevent unsafe lane changing:
Cat eyes reflectors mark the lanes on the roads. This ensures that vehicles do not frequently change lanes or swerve from one lane to another, causing accidents.

● Speed control:
Cat eyes reflectors also act as a road rumbling strip. The traffic automatically slows down while passing over them since they act as barriers to speed. Thus, they help to control rash driving.

● Durable and easy to install:
These reflectors are very durable, economical, and easy to install than other lane markers. They do not come out by themselves when attached to the roads. Also, there is very little chance of their theft. Hence, they have a very long life.

● Multi-coloured:
Cat eyes reflectors are multi-coloured. While this increases their aesthetic beauty, each colour has a special meaning too. White reflectors denote lane divisions and centre marking on the roads, and red reflectors denote lines that we cannot cross. Green reflectors denote the lines we can cross, such as entrances to service lanes.

Cat eyes reflectors are excellent warning devices on roads inside cities and highways. They have a special role on highways since there are few streetlights, and vehicles run at high speeds. The governments have increased their usage in recent years. It is a step in the right direction as they enhance the safety and security of all types of vehicles plying on the roads.

Similar to cat eyes reflectors, online motor insurance takes care of our vehicles in the best way possible. Buy motor insurance online and receive the safety and security of insurance combined with the convenience of buying it right from your home or workplace without visiting the insurance office personally. Hence, it is the best form of comprehensive coverage and the most recommended one.

Click HERE to buy motor insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.