I’ve always been a bit intimidated by car maintenance. It’s often something that I don’t have time for, and it can be costly if you do it wrong.
But the good news is, there are plenty of simple things you can do to maintain your car that won’t cost much or take up much time at all.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything from checking the oil to replacing your battery every four years or so—all in easy-to-understand language!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Regular car maintenance is important for safety and longevity. |
| Checking tire pressure, brakes, and windshield wipers regularly can prevent accidents. |
| Regular oil changes, fluid checks, and filter replacements keep the car running smoothly. |
| Checking battery health, replacing spark plugs, and inspecting belts and hoses can prevent expensive repairs. |
| Maintaining your car’s cleanliness inside and out is part of essential car maintenance. |
| Following the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule is crucial. |
| Some car maintenance tasks can be done by yourself, but it’s best to leave complicated tasks to a professional. |
| Taking care of your vehicle can save you money on costly repairs and improve fuel efficiency. |
Essential Tools
Screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches. These can be used to remove or tighten bolts and nuts.
Jack and jack stands. Jacks help raise your car so that you can work on it from underneath, while jack stands provide a safe place for your car to rest once lifted off the ground.
Funnel for adding oil and other fluids to your engine (with a plastic funnel).
Rags or paper towels for cleaning spills on the garage floor as well as under the hood of your vehicle.
Lug wrench: A long metal bar with one end shaped like an L-shape that attaches to lug nuts on wheels; also known as a tire iron or breaker bar. This tool is used when removing tires/wheels from vehicles when servicing them in order to gain access underneath them where things like brakes may need service too!
Oil filter wrench: Has long handles attached at either end of its handle which allows you better leverage when removing oil filters from engines; often has rubber grips so they don’t slip while in use!
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your vehicle safe and running smoothly. According to The Top 15 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Safe on the Road, “checking your tire pressure, brakes, and windshield wipers regularly can prevent accidents and ensure your safety on the road.”
Checking The Oil
Checking the oil level is a simple yet vital maintenance task that can save you from a costly breakdown. When you fill up with gas at the pump, check the oil at the same time using your dipstick.
The dipstick is either stored somewhere on top of the engine or near it—check your owner’s manual for details on where yours will be located.
When checking your oil level, use common sense and remember that it’s impossible to see when there isn’t any in there!
If no oil shows up on your dipstick after several minutes of waiting, add some until it does show up and then remove half an ounce (about 2 tablespoons) for safekeeping into a jar or other small container so you don’t forget about it later when you’re changing filters and other parts. Be sure to get all of this excess back into its proper place before proceeding with any other maintenance tasks!
| Brand | Frequency of Oil Changes | Oil Level Check |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | ~7,500 miles | At least once a month |
| Ford | 7,500 – 10,000 miles | Regularly, once a week |
| Honda | ~7,500 miles | Once a month |
| Chevrolet | 7,500 – 10,000 miles | Regularly, once a week |
| BMW | Varies by model | Check regularly, every two weeks |
Description: The table shows how often oil changes are recommended for various car brands and how frequently oil levels should be checked, highlighting that checking the oil level at least once a month is essential for all vehicles.
It’s important to follow the recommendations of your manufacturer for oil changes to maintain the health of your engine.
Keeping Tires Inflated
Tire pressure is a very important part of maintaining your car. You should check the pressure of your tires once a month when you are at a gas station, and fill them up if they are low.
Your tires should be at the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) for the weather conditions in which you drive.
It’s always good to check tire pressure when it is cold outside because there may be less air in your tires than there would be on a hot day. If you want to know what PSI is best for your vehicle, look at the sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb or call your dealership.
Maintaining your vehicle is important not only for safety but also for its longevity. The Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips for a Long-Lasting Vehicle recommends “regular oil changes, checking fluids, and replacing filters to keep your car running smoothly for years to come.”
Making Sure You Have Gas
If you’ve been driving for a while, chances are your car’s gas tank has run dry at some point. It’s easy to forget to check the gauge before heading out of town or even just running errands around town.
Make sure that doesn’t happen again by adding gas when the needle gets close to empty and keeping an eye on it when it’s close to full.
Here’s how:
Pull up next to a gas pump and turn off the engine. The key should be in your possession at this point!
Open the fuel door (located either under or near one of your doors) and take out any trash you find in there it really is gross how much people will leave behind! Rubbing alcohol works great as a disinfectant if there is any blood spillage from vampires or werewolves that have stolen into your vehicle while waiting in line at Starbucks.
Do not use kerosene; it will explode upon contact with flame, causing severe burns and giving everyone who sees you look like an idiot since they know that gasoline is nonflammable but won’t say anything because they don’t want their head bitten off by one of those aforementioned creatures lurking around town these days.)
Take a glance at where it says “gas,” then look for another label resembling something like “petrol” or “diesel.”
If both fuels are easily accessible through this opening on top of car’s hood (they won’t be), then pick whichever one matches what type of fuel was used last time before starting up vehicle again [see below].
Making Sure You Have Gas
| Brand | Average MPG | Tank Size | Range When Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | 30 MPG | 13.2 gal | 396 miles |
| Ford | 28 MPG | 14 gal | 392 miles |
| Honda | 32 MPG | 12.4 gal | 396 miles |
| Chevrolet | 26 MPG | 12.7 gal | 330 miles |
| BMW | 24 MPG | 15.6 gal | 374 miles |
Description: This table shows the average miles per gallon (MPG), tank size, and range when a vehicle is filled up with gasoline for various car brands.
It highlights that the range when a tank is full can vary greatly depending on the brand, with models from Toyota, Honda, and BMW generally having a longer range than Chevy and Ford models on average. Keeping your gas tank filled regularly is essential to avoid running out of gas while driving.
Knowing How To Jump-Start A Car
If your car has a dead battery, use jumper cables to jump-start it.
The first step is to pop open the hood of your car and locate the battery. It’s usually near the front under a plastic cover that you’ll need to remove by turning 2 large nuts or bolts (one on each side) counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench.
Once that cover comes off, you should see 2 sets of posts on top of the battery; one pair has black cables extending from them and another pair has red ones extending from them (see image).
Connect the positive cable from your jumper cable set to one post on top of your good car’s battery: always connect this first!
Next, connect one end of another jumper cable set’s negative wire onto an unpainted metal part of both vehicles’ chassis (usually found at their rear) before connecting its other end onto any unpainted metal part on your dead vehicle’s chassis—be careful not to accidentally touch anything electrical with either end!
Then finally plug in any accessories such as lights or stereo systems in both cars so they don’t drain power while we start up ours alone temporarily….
A well-maintained car runs like a dream but requires some effort to achieve that. The Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Running Like New suggests “checking your battery, replacing spark plugs, and inspecting the belts and hoses can keep your car in top shape and prevent expensive repairs.”
Putting In Windshield Wiper Fluid
When you open the hood, you’ll find a reservoir with a plastic cover over it. This is where you’ll add windshield wiper fluid or check its level.
If you’re adding fluid, unscrew the top of the reservoir and use a funnel to pour in the correct amount (your owner’s manual will tell you how much). Then screw on the cap again and wipe off any spills with a rag.
If there’s already some liquid in there, press down on your brakes to activate your wipers so that they pump out any old fluid from inside them before refilling them with fresh stuff from this new bottle.
Once everything looks clean and wet again, close up shop by placing your shiny safety cap back on top!
Make sure not to leave this area uncovered for too long because rain could get into it—and we know how expensive windshield washers can be!
Plus: don’t forget that windshield wipers need changing every six months or so depending on weather conditions (in hot climates they may need replacing more often than others).
Taking care of your vehicle is essential to keep it in good health and on the road longer. According to 15 Expert Car Maintenance Tips for Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Health, “checking your air filter, maintaining proper tire pressure, and using quality engine oil and gasoline can help ensure your car’s health and prevent costly repairs.”
Changing The Headlight Bulbs
To change the headlight bulbs on your car, you’ll want to start by wearing gloves and safety glasses.
The glass of the bulb can be extremely hot, so it’s important not to touch them or let them touch your skin. You also need to be careful not to break or damage the socket that connects the bulb with electrical power from inside your car.
A good way to avoid touching any part of these components is by using an old rag or cloth as a barrier between your hand and the headlight bulb. This will prevent any accidental bumps from damaging anything before it has been installed properly into its new home in one of your headlights!
Changing Your Air Filter Regularly
You should change your air filter every time you change your oil, or at least every 20,000 miles. If you have a car with a smaller engine (think subcompact), it’s best to change the air filter more often than that.
The average cost for an air filter is $30-$60 depending on where you get it and what kind of car you have.
Changing your air filter is relatively simple, but if this is the first time for you then it might take some trial and error before getting everything right. Here are some helpful tips:
Make sure that all tools needed are present before starting work on any vehicle maintenance project (this includes things like sockets/wrenches).
If not available beforehand, these items can be purchased at most auto parts stores for around $10 each; however they’re usually cheaper if bought in bulk quantities like 5 pieces at once instead of single ones individually.
For small jobs such as changing an oil pan gasket or something similar which requires little effort other than tightening bolts down hard enough so they stay secure – try using vice grips instead!
This method works great when trying not only because they’ll save time by making sure there’s no loss due
Replacing Your Battery Every Four Years Or So
The battery is the most important part of your car. It’s what makes sure that all the important parts are working and ready to go when you want them to be.
It’s also one of the most expensive parts on your vehicle, so it’s important to replace it if it starts acting funny.
If a mechanic tells you that you need a new battery, ask him or her how long before your current one will die and why he/she recommends replacing it now rather than later.
A good rule of thumb is to change out your battery every four years or so – they tend to lose their ability to hold up over time.
This can happen faster if you use your vehicle in extreme weather conditions and don’t charge it enough!
If you’re comfortable doing small DIY projects around the house (or even under water!), then it may not be too difficult for you to replace the battery yourself using some basic tools like screwdrivers and pliers (and maybe even some duct tape).
Long-term ownership of a car requires commitment and attention to maintenance. The Essential Car Maintenance Checklist for Long-Term Ownership highlights the importance of “regularly checking your car’s fluids, brakes, tires, and cleaning the interior and exterior for a well-maintained vehicle that will last you years.”
Conclusion
We hope this guide has given you a better understanding of the basics of car maintenance and how to do it yourself.
Whether you’re just starting out, or have been working on cars for years and want some new ideas or even just looking for some basic tips on how to keep your car running better!—we hope that it was helpful.
Hello friends. My name is Hellen James and I’m here to help you make good decisions when it comes to buying, selling, and maintaining your vehicles.
