Let’s be honest: You don’t need to become a professional mechanic to own a car and deal with any of its issues on your own. If you ask us, we’ll say that every driver needs to know the ABCs of car maintenance, but if you’re not 100% sure about your skills, no worries.
As long as we live, we learn. So we think it’s a great thing you stumbled upon this article because here you will learn a valuable set of advice and tips on how to take care of your car when no mechanic will answer your phone. Who needs them anyway? I’m just kidding. Sometimes, they’re truly God-sent.
Always go back to the owner’s manual.
The first and most important guide that you should follow when it comes to car maintenance tips is the user manual. There, you will find a bunch of item-wise information about your car. If you can’t find the hard copy of the manual, you could go online and visit the manufacturer’s website.
You will probably find things like security, child safety, keys, and remote control, along with specifications for fuel, refueling, driving aids, car care, and many other things. If you want our take, you should treat your car’s user manual like a bible, especially if you want to learn details about your car.
You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that many of the issues that you face, for instance, changing a flat tire, unlocking a locked door, or even installing a baby seat, can be easily solved by referring to the owner’s manual.
Keep a check on the tire pressure.
Car tires are one of those essential components that keep your car up and going (not that any other components wouldn’t be just as crucial). But that’s not the point. Incorrect tire pressure for too long could dramatically reduce their usability.
It could also cause early wear and tear and even tire bursts. That’s why it’s so important to maintain the recommended amount of air (or even nitrogen) in the tires. These days, you can use a rather simple and inexpensive device to check the tire pressure by yourself. You can also use these in addition to visual checks for cracks and objects that might be stuck on the exterior of the tire.
Change the oil and oil filter.
Your car is really nothing but a very complex machine with multiple small and large parts. Since a car is a machine that can easily move, it’s quite obvious that multiple moving parts might also be involved.
A car can’t run as it should without a lubricant, which is oftentimes present to ensure the smoothness “of the ride.” This is where oil and oil filters are most needed. Oil lubricates moving parts and absorbs the heat caused by friction. On the other hand, an oil filter keeps the oil clean and free of contamination. Here’s how you could change the oil and oil filter on your car:
- refer to the user manual and find the oil drain plug. make sure you remove the old oil.
- replace the oil plug as explained in the owner’s manual, and then remove the oil filter.
- before installing the new oil filter, you have to lubricate it with fresh oil.
- proceed to pour new oil. make sure you fill only the required amount of oil and that it suits your car type.
- carefully place the cap and power the engine, and this is how you will manage to identify any leaks.
- if there aren’t any leaks, shut off the engine and wait for a couple of minutes.
- check the oil level with a dipstick.
- add more oil if needed.
Keep the engine clean.
The engine is the very heart of the car, and just like yours, it needs proper care. However, there’s only so much you can do to keep it clean internally (for instance, by using clean fuel); that’s why you should also make time to clean it externally every now and then.
It’s also important in terms of identifying an area of concern, such as leaks. Leaks, combined with dust and debris, might cause damage to the engine. That’s why we advise you to use simple engine cleaners to wipe any leftover gunk.
Look for a faulty spark plug.
Your car might fire up if you have a spark plug in working condition. However, the good news is that you can easily judge if the spark plug is faulty or if it will put you in a spot anytime soon. Also, try not to forget to add this point to your basic car maintenance checklist. Here are a couple of examples that might help you identify a faulty spark plug:
- issues with starting your car:
- dip in mileage
- increased noise and vibrations.
- uneven acceleration
Keep the interiors clean.
It’s not really necessary to spend money on a car wash every two days. Using a simple vacuum cleaner to keep the interior dust-free might prove to be quite helpful. These days, many creative cleaning items are widely available on the market.
For instance, you could use a blob of scented slime to efficiently clean all the tricky spaces and places, such as the air vents, the base of a gear stick, or even the area under the steering wheel.
Carry out battery maintenance.
If you want to learn the basics of a car battery, check the owner’s manual. If needed, the internet, too. You should also know where to find the car battery. Next, you’ll have to understand how to safely disconnect the battery and clean the terminal contacts when needed.
Remember to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery first. This might effectively cut off the electrical supply, reducing the chances of getting into an accident. Then, clean the contacts with a brush that’s safe enough to use on batteries, and reconnect. This time, you might want to connect the positive first. Cleaning the battery every now and then will help you prolong its life.
Check the brake fluid.
A car’s braking system is probably one of the most complex mechanisms. Brake fluid will ensure the proper functioning of the system. You can easily ensure the brake fluid isn’t spoilt and is present in the right quantity, and the way to do that is by checking the level of fluid present in the braking system. More than that, you need to check the color of the fluid. If it’s dark, you might have to replace the braking fluid.
Maintain fuel economy.
It’s an open secret that keeping a car on a regular basis might help you retain good mileage. Keeping the fuel economy is also lighter on the pocket. Here are a couple of car maintenance tips that might help you achieve the needed result in terms of fuel and mileage:
- keeping average speed: continuous speed fluctuations and rash driving might take a huge toll on the mileage of your car. It decreases the life
- don’t burden the car with heavy weights.
- Don’t use the car too often when it comes to moving heavy objects here and there. Remember, the more weight you have, the lesser the mileage. If you own a business that constantly needs to move heavy objects, then you should consider buying a better car for that type of endeavor.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend reading: 12 Popular Car Modifications That Are Illegal in the United States
12 Responses
Articles such as this are very helpful for and much appreciated by people like me, who are helpless in doing any of those things mentioned. After reading this article I intend to do some dabbling in simple car maintenance instead of driving to the mechanic at the first sign of trouble. “Thanks” and keep such articles coming!
I learned a lot from this article. Thank you for emailing to me.
GREAT article!! Thank you for sharing!!
Reliable, basic info. Stuff that has kept my car running for years.
Thanks for information
This was very helpful! I plan to share it.
good common basic things to do. dont forget the transmission service.that is one thing people either forget or dont know about that is the most 2nd expensive thing of a car.tTHANKS
Thanks this is great information………..
This was a helpful article. I just got a new-to-me used car that has 200,000 miles on it but has been very well-maintained and I want to take good care of it from the start. The owner’s manual is where I will start and it was excellent that you used that as your first tip.
Excellent
Good read. Pretty much already knew all of this but re-reading it again and getting reminded is always a good thing. It’s the little things that keep the big problems out.
Best way to check if radiator needs water or fluid.