Do it yourself automotive maintenance and repair
How do I? ... Automotive Videos
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| Check and change the motor oil |
| Check tire pressure |
| Check and change the air filter |
| Change a flat tire |
| Check and add brake fluid |
| Rotate the tires |
| Flush the antifreeze |
| Check and add antifreeze |
| Change the spark plugs |
| Change the fuel filter |
| Replace windshield wiper blades |
| Inspect or replace brake pads |
| Check, clean or replace battery terminals |
| Top off battery fluid |
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Nobody wants to replace a car or truck due to poor maintenance every couple years or so. Simple to perform routine maintenance will save you money down the road as well as making it safer to drive your vehicle over the long haul. The majority of car breakdowns could have been prevented if the owners of the cars had simply maintained their cars better. Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night is a scenario you can avoid with a little foresight.
Routinely performing routine maintenance on your vehicle can greatly help you improve your gas mileage. With the cost of fuel currently fluctuating between $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon I cannot overemphasize this point. A car that has been poorly maintained will not run as well as one that as been maintained regularly.
What is the proper maintenance for your vehicle? To find out, you need to read through your car’s warranty instructions. Different manufacturers have different definitions as to what “regular” car care entails. You should definitely follow the required mile inspections that your manufacturer requests if you want to keep your warranty from becoming void.
Regular car care typically entails:
· Changing your oil before you reach 5,000 miles between changes, using the proper oil filter and oil designed for your engine
· Keep the transmission fluid at proper operating levels
· Keep the antifreeze volume level throughout the year no matter where you live.
· Keep all other fluids (such as brakes) at proper levels as well
· Use only the proper octane gasoline recommended by the manufacturer. This information is in your Owners Manual.
· Never allow your fuel level to go below the empty line for any length of time. Why? Sediments from the gasoline that accumulate over time at the bottom of your fuel tank may get churned up and cause parts of your engine to clog.
· If you notice any strange sounds or other problems with your car, get them checked out as soon as possible, before they get worse!
· Check your tires with every fuel fill up. Make sure they are at the right pressure.
· Keep an emergency roadside emergency kit in your vehicle. This might include jumper cables, a tire iron, jack, spare tires, etc.
Sometimes, taking good care of your car can seem expensive, but it is not nearly as expensive as having to fix it down the road! Also, regular car care can help maintain the value of your vehicle, and having proof of all the maintenance you performed on your car can improve its resale value.
