You may have no desire to ever become a mechanic, but knowing how to do a few basic auto repairs and tune-ups could save you hundreds every year. Not to mention, having maintenance skills comes in handy if you have a minor breakdown on the highway or in the middle of nowhere. Many fixes and regular maintenance tasks are likely a lot more simple than you think they are. Continue reading to learn more.
Check the OilOne of the most essential parts of
simple car maintenance is checking your oil. The motor in your car is made of hundreds of pounds of hot, gyrating metal parts and screws and bolts. For it to operate effortlessly, it has to be a well-oiled machine—literally.To check your oil, you have to go under the hood. You'll see a dipstick attached to the motor—it looks like a little handle. Pull the dipstick out of the motor and wipe away any oil on it with a cloth. After you've done this, you put the dipstick all the way back in its sheath, and remove it again. At the tip of the stick, there will be markings indicating a high point and a low point. Your oil should be between those two points. If your oil is below the low point, then you need to put more oil in your vehicle.When you check your oil, you're not just checking to see how much oil is in your car. You're also looking for the color of the oil. Your oil shouldn't be black. If it is, that's a sign that it's contaminated by pollutants or sludge—it could also mean that your engine's getting too hot and it's burning the oil. When you see black oil on your dipstick, it's time for an oil change.
Wheels and TiresOne of the most frustrating things that can happen when you're behind the wheel is catching a flat tire. It's one of those things that's bound to happen if you drive enough, so you might as well be prepared for it, right?You should always have the proper tools for changing your tires as well as a spare tire or fifth wheel in the trunk. To save money, you can get spare wheels and other minor parts from
salvage cars.To change a tire, you need the right-sized tire iron for the lug nuts on your wheels and a car jack. If you're changing a front tire, then put the jack a little behind the tire you're changing. If it's a back tire, then put the jack a little in front of the tire.Jack the car up until the wheel is a few inches off the ground. Remove the lug nuts and replace that wheel with the spare. Put the lug nuts back on the car, tighten them, and let the car back down gently. Once the car is back down on the ground, tighten all of the lugs again.
Car InsuranceYou can do all you can to protect your car in terms of maintenance but every now and then, something beyond your control happens. While you may have never viewed it this way, car insurance is a form of car maintenance. Incidents and accidents can do more damage to your car than you can fix yourself or pay for out of pocket. Car insurance is financial auto maintenance for when the unexpected occurs.
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