source:citygarage.co.nz

Types of Car Maintenance to go for

It can save a driver up to $150 or more each year, handling routine maintenance on your own, rather than outsourcing professional auto service. It certainly adds up year after year, this may seem like a nominal figure. And in their wallet for the holidays, who wouldn’t want an extra couple hundred dollars?

It can save drivers time and money, performing your own vehicular maintenance on the areas of your car that are DIY-approved. One that does not require the tools and training of a professional mechanic, it is vital to only perform car maintenance. Keep your car safe and running smoothly, as you stick to the DIY-approved vehicular maintenance checklist. The following are the five ways in which you can perform car maintenance on your own!

Oil Changes

source: nergersautoexpress.com

Without the help of a professional mechanic, you can change your own oil and oil filter! You are ready to change your car’s oil all by yourself, as all you need are the right supplies and a little foreknowledge! A new oil filter, an oil pan to store the dirty oil, a car jack, a socket set, a funnel, and a couple of bottles of the motor oil your car uses are required by the same. It will not be hurting you if you get safety goggles, rubber gloves, a flashlight, and a few clean cloths. Depending on how often you drive, the oil should be changed every 5,000 miles, or sooner.

To warm the oil up because warm oil flows easier, run your car engine for a few minutes. Place the oil pan beneath your vehicle, while you lift your vehicle off the ground with the car jack. Make sure though that you’ve got the proper oil for your engine—selections reviewed by RatedradarDetector can help you with that.

Next, unscrew the oil drain plug beneath your car and your oil cap located under the hood. Underneath your car’s oil compartment, this plug generally looks like a single bolt. On locating the oil drain plug, double-check your vehicle owners’ manual for instructions.

Use your hands to unscrew the rest of the way as you put on your rubber gloves and use a socket wrench to unscrew the drain plug a few rounds.

Air Filters

source: cars.com

Your vehicle has air filters that need to be replaced on a routine basis, aside from oil filters. These can be purchased at any local automotive store or general store as they are not much expensive. You will notice a major decrease in gas mileage and vehicular performance if you neglect to change your air filters, overtime. You can do all by yourself when it comes to this maintenance job! It is a simple process that is quite easy to learn in the way to do it. All you need to follow is the manual instructions.

Coolant

source: autooilandfluid.com

Your car’s engine would be in pretty bad shape without the coolant. Without coolant, it would fail to operate entirely after a short amount of time. Coolant is imperative for the operation and performance of any vehicle as it is also known as the radiator fluid. As a result of constant friction and heat production, it prevents the inner workings of a car engine from overheating. The number one cause is a lack of radiator fluid if you have an overheating engine. Simply locate the coolant cap beneath your hood, and pour the solution right in and purchase a bottle or two at your local automotive store!

Headlights

source: especira.com

A burnt-out headlight is an immediate repair since this can get you a traffic ticket or worse, cause an accident. You can get this problem repaired right away since you don’t need to make an appointment with an auto shop. All you need a new bulb and a basic toolset! It is always better to go ahead with the professionals especially for getpitstop.com who can provide services wherever you are.

Windshield Wiper Fluid

source: cars.com

Windshield wiper fluid is one of the 7 essential car fluids every vehicle requires for functional operation and safety though it may appear trivial, as stated by digmyride.com. Any time when it runs low, you can re-fill your windshield wiper fluid. Simply pour it down the correct tube under your car’s hood and purchase a bottle of windshield fluid. Keeping in mind that you will probably need to do this more often in winter, do this as often as you need to.

Brakes

source: benefieldauto.com

It is highly recommended to make sure you can get to a full stop just as well as you can accelerate, once you’ve ensured your car is running smoothly and at full capacity thanks to its new filters and oil. Again, check the indicated maintenance period regarding the vehicle’s braking system and take your car’s service manual. Make sure to check the wear level of your brake pads and replace them when they become thin if there is none. Also, it is highly recommended to replace your brake rotors as well; they may take longer to wear but they aren’t indestructible either after a few tens of thousands of miles.

Timing belt

source: robicheck.de

While the engine is running at a high RPM’s is a mechanical nightmare, a timing belt that ruptures. Chances are your intake and exhaust valves will damage, your engine may have to undergo a very expensive repair process and pistons may crack if this happens. You don’t have to worry about this if your car features a chain drive.  Replacing your old belt with a new timing belt kit on a regular basis is highly recommended since there are many cars using a timing belt.

Tires

source: tirerack.com

Unless the vehicle has a strong grip on the ground, your car’s enhanced braking system is useless. Make sure you keep an eye on their wear level, given that the only elements able to provide such grip are the tires. To measure how much tread your tires have left, use a cheap tread-depth gauge. The chances of aquaplaning and tire failure when a low tread increases. You should own a winter as well as a summer set of tires if you live in a climate with four seasons, depending on where you live, season-appropriate tires should be used.

About Michael Farmiga