5 Important Things You Should Know from the Vehicle Manual

Reading the vehicle manual is a rare activity for vehicle drivers in the country, especially for new car owners. There are two reasons why vehicle owners do not read the manual: the thick book and the amount of text.

So it is not surprising that many vehicle owners ask many questions that are actually already covered in the vehicle guide. The vehicle manual contains a lot of information related to the vehicle you own, and it would certainly be very detrimental if you do not read the guide.

Friends, you don’t need to worry. Here are some explanations of important information found in the vehicle manual that you must understand.

Tank Capacity and Fuel Type

When opening the flap to fill up with fuel, it may be easy to find, but some people take time to search for it. Friends, do you know how many liters your car's tank capacity is and what type of fuel is recommended by the official manufacturer?

Well, to find out, you can read the vehicle manual in the technical information section under fuel recommendations. So, for gasoline engines, it will state the minimum Research Octane Number (RON) or octane, for example, if RON 92 is recommended, it means equivalent to Pertamax. However, for diesel engines, it is stated in Cetane Number (CN). Once you understand this information, incidents of fuel spills or incorrect fuel filling will not happen again.

Type and Volume of Engine Oil

Engine oil is a very important fluid for your car. Just like fuel, in the vehicle manual, you can read information about the type and volume of oil needed for routine maintenance or just for topping up. You can find it in the technical information section under engine oil recommendations. To avoid confusion, the type of oil usually uses viscosity terms or thickness levels with examples like 10W-30, 15W-40, or other types. Make sure the oil volume matches the recommendation so that the engine does not become heavy.

Indicator Light Functions

When you turn the ignition key, several indicator lights will turn on in the instrument cluster. This is often overlooked or perhaps because you do not understand what the indicators mean. If you are curious about interpreting those indicator lights, please read your vehicle manual again.

In this guidebook, you can find out the causes of indicator symbols lighting up. If in a sophisticated car, the indicators provide information if there is a malfunction in your car, if the light is on, it is usually recommended to visit an official workshop to address it. Friends, you also need to know that there are several indicators that must light up to inform that the device is active, such as high beam indicator, turn signal, city light, and handbrake.

Explanation of Supporting Features in the Car

When you want to buy a new car, you surely already know various modern supporting features available in your dream car. Such as safety features in driving like Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) or Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Traction Control System (TCS), and security facilities such as keys with immobilizer.

These various features will not feel useful if you do not know when, how, and under what conditions they can be used. The manual explains how to use these features one by one. When you read the features in the vehicle manual, it is best to practice them immediately so that you are familiar with the features when driving your car.

Location of Spare Tire and Toolkit

Experiencing emergencies such as a flat tire and a blowout in a place far from a workshop is indeed very frustrating. Moreover, you only have a little time to change your car tire. Before this happens, always make sure you understand the use and location of the spare tire, toolbox, and jack. Make sure you have read the vehicle manual, as the guide varies for each car brand.