5 Essential Car Maintenance Tasks to Do Yourself

0 Complicating things or spending a lot of money is not necessary to keep your car in good working order. 

There are a number of very fundamental systems care that you could carry out yourself even without numerous tools and know how at home. This article can teach you how to reduce the amount you spend on a mechanic and maintain your car effectively to make it last longer.

Car ownership of course implies corresponding obligations, including car maintenance. Although you hire a mechanic for complicated work or acquisition of new parts, there are numerous operations that you can handle by yourself in-between professional maintenance. 

It can be much cheaper to do them yourself also you can learn a lot about your car and can help catch some problems before they get worse.

Here are five essential do-it-yourself car maintenance tasks and tips for tackling them safely and effectively:

1. Apply– change the engine oil and filter

Having your car’s engine oil and oil filter changed is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your car. Heat, friction and the inevitable debris that will be picked up over time can eventually add up to bad news for oil. 

Frequency cambios causes old oil loses its lubricating ability, and clogged oil filters causes insufficient flow. In this case it may result to high wear and tear of the engine. 

The kind of oil and the time that you want to wait before changing it again depends on your car, and the usage of the vehicle. However, most cars and cars require and oil change between 5000-7500 or even up to 10000 miles. 

A ratchet, jack stands, a drain pan, and funnel are useful. Start the engine, raise the car properly, find the drain bolt and a new filter, remove the used oil, install the new filter, put back the drain bolt and replace the oil. Make certain you clear any light that was reminding you of a maintenance requirement.

Doing your own oil change is not only economical; it also lets you assess the state of your oil.

2. Self-Monitor and Self-Evaluation: windscreens wipers 

In all the types of roads and at any one time, safe driving entails having an unobstructed view of the road. Windshield wipers are a must have to serve a basic need of being able to see in raining or snowy weather. 

Wipers have lifetime like other parts and like any other parts, they also deteriorate over time. It deteriorates through UV damage, abrasions, and chemical exposure due to sun, dirt, and grease admitted on floors. 

Wipers should be inspected for cracks, splits and streaks because these are the signs that the wipers require replacement.Replacing wiper blades is an uncomplicated,cross-sectional routine maintenance activity. 

Be sure to buy blades that will fit your car. Just find where the lock tab is that goes to the wiper arm, pull the wiper off the windshield, insert new blade, lock it, then reset the wiper back where it was originally.

3. Check Fluid Levels 

There are several fluid stores to ensure your car part or equipment operates and is well moisturized. Well, it does no harm to give them a little check, once in a while, to see if they’re full to the right levels or not. 

Lack of consumable fluids within the car might lead to serious damage to the main drivetrain due to friction or excessive heat. The checking and topping off only takes a few minutes.

Examples of automobile fluids that may require regular check up include motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, coolant solution and windshield washer solution. 

Nearly all have transparent tanks and “Full” status that tell when a refill is required. Twist caps and reservoirs must be cleaned first before it reopens. Add low quantities of fluids up as needed. Again look for signs of leakage at the bottom part. 

Fluids also – anything that looks more like sludge, than it should, or of an unusual colour could present issues that will need attention from a mechanic.

4. Tire pressure and the tread depth

Never under or over inflate your tires for handling, braking, fuel economy and durability. Tires that are underinflated flex too much leading to excessive heating of the tire and ultimately damage. 

The bulging tires cause small contact patch in specific references to the vehicles structure. Tire pressure changes over time, there is therefore need to check the pressure every month to have the right pressure for the car. 

Do a proper check to each of the tires as well as the spare one by using a quality pressure gauge. Continue to add or release air for further delay in accordance with placard or door jamb recommendation. 

Check the treads of the tires at the same time as well. Place a penny with Lincoln’s head facing down into several tread grooves of every tire. If you can peek up to Lincoln’s head then the treads are done for and need replacement.

5. Replace Air Filters

Engine air and cabin air filters are cheap preventative maintenance that has a great impact if changed when clogged. The engine air filter is the one that protects the intake system from abrasive particulate matter from reaching it. 

If not, abrasive particles are drawn into the combustion chamber and prompt an abnormal wear and tear. New car vents create dust to cover pollen and pollution to enhance ventilation and cabin air quality.

**Both engine and cabin air filters get slowly filled with deposited matter. Inspect and replace them about once it hits 12,000 to 15,000 miles on the car’s mileageometer. Locate each filter housing. 

Pull out the old filter, get rid of it, if there is dirt inside the housing then wash it, place the new filter and close the housing. It does not, however, take more than a few minutes to complete. Just make sure to keep a note of the current mileage for use at a later date.

Although, this summary provides information on basic requirements on every vehicle, each of them has peculiar needs. Refer to your owner’s manual. You should also join an automotive care course in any of the community colleges as well. 

It means that maintenance habits, which will be discussed later, help one to learn what is happening inside a car and prevent some issues from evolving into critical ones. So to keep your car in shape for a couple of years, you need some free time and good effort to make your auto running and safe.