Cars are expensive, maintaining them can be expensive too so its essential to know the basics of keeping your car running well. Everything mentioned below can be done yourself by using basic tools. This should be used as an introductory guide on what to take care of on your car.
1 - Buy a decent set of tools
Tools are important, they help you get the job done. Good quality tools are more important because they ensure you get the job done, the last thing you want when in the middle of a job is something breaking and you having no transport to get a replacement.
For the average weekend warrior its best you buy a good quality tool set, something which has a wide range of sizes for sockets, spanners, screwdrivers etc etc. I can’t stress the importance of paying a little extra for some good quality tools, look at them as an investment, a good tool set can last you your whole lifetime. These days many companies/auto part stores offer certain brands which have on the spot warranty replacements, this is excellent, it saves time and money.
2 - Read an owner/workshop manual: (Difficulty 1/10)
The owners manual is a treasure trove of information for the weekend warrior, not only may it contain features you didn't know about the car but it has a dedicated section on what types of maintenance that needs to be done and all the part numbers and quantities that you need.
Reading the manual was considered nonsensical back in the days, but with cars getting more and more complex its now a necessity.
If you are wanting to go into more depth then a workshop manual will go a long way. For projects you HAVE to have one. Stick to Bentley or Hayens manuals.
3 - Log everything!:
Logging information is important, do it in your log book or a small notebook that you keep with your manual. Record things like oil change intervals, their dates and readings on your odometer, also record anything else you have changed. Attaching receipts will help you keep track of how much you have spent too. This will help you for your next schedule and if you go on to sell the car it will definitely add value.
4 - Change your oil: Difficulty (4/10)
The importance of healthy oil in an engine cannot be stressed enough, its the lifeblood of your engine. Lets make it simple:
- Read your manual, it will tell you when to change your oil and how much of it to use. It will also tell you the type of oil that should be used. If you cant find it there do some research on the Internet.
- In my opinion always use synthetic oil, with modern engines requiring them and older engines benefiting from the better lubrication and longer life. Synthetic oils are getting cheaper so keep an eye out for a bargain.
When changing oils you have to also change the oil filter, these are cheap and all auto part stores carry the one you need, buy it the same time you buy the oil.
5 - Flush your coolant: (4/10)
Thee cooling system for your car is THE most important and overlooked aspect. It is essential that your cooling system is in the best condition it can be:
- Make sure your coolant is level and keep it topped up, if you notice the level is dropping, look around the engine bay to find the potential leak.
- Flush your radiator at least once every two years.
- if your car is overheating or you are losing an alarming amount of coolant see your mechanic right away, pay for a check up and quote then decide if you can DIY or prefer to pay the mechanic.
6 - Service your brakes: (7/10)
Make sure you inspect your brakes, they are the only thing that will effectively save you from your crazy driving or someone else's.
- Check for the level of your brake pads and the thickness of your disks.
- Check your brake fluid, it should be clean and bright in colour. If its dark you need to change your brake fluid by bleeding the brakes.
Brakes are tricky to work with, they have fiddly components and its very messy work. If your not feeling totally up to it PLEASE get a professional to do it for you. Ask them if you can look on so you can learn and try it yourself next time.
7 - Change your spark plugs: (4/10)
These little things get neglected because they are buried a little into the engine and not always in view. They are just as important though. Spark plugs are responsible for igniting the fuel in the engine, if they don't spark properly then you waste fuel leading to poor economy and power efficiency.
Changing spark plugs are easy, there should be a dedicated socket tool in your tool set. Remember to consult your manual for the correct type.
8 - Keep your car clean, inside and out!
A clean car s a happy car, it keeps you happy and all in all contributes to a better world, you brush your teeth, clean your hair and wash your face...then wash your damn car.
Not only that but if you keep your car clean (includes engine bay) then you are more likely to spot problems early on and stop rust in areas where rust buildup is prone.
We spend most of our time with the car on the inside so it makes sense that its kept clean. Not only does it make it a better place but rubbish can be a safety concern. Imagine that empty glass coke bottle makes it way behind your brake peddle when you press it, it doesn't move because of the bottle lodged behind. Now imagine your going 100kph and doing an emergency stop behind a truck full of overhanging steel rods....see where I'm going?
9 - Change your windscreen wipers: (2/10)
This is something so small and so simple, when its raining, snowing or you have a truck flinging mud on your precious car then you need to see where your going. Windscreen wipers need replacement, they aren’t something that lasts forever. A clean windscreen is much safer as you clearly see whats happening and your passenger doesn't think your a slob.
Do it now.
10 - Inspect your tyres:
The area where your tyre meets the road is your only contact patch, its the only thing that keeps your car pointing where you want it to go. Tyres not only effect your grip which also helps your braking power. You can have huge powerful brakes but if you have cheap and nasty tyres they aren't going to be very effective.
- Rotating tyres: if all your tyres are the same size then its good practice to change the backs with the fronts or vise-versa for even wear. This is because the drive wheels (wheels which are getting the power from engine) usually wear out faster.
- Wheel alignment is important because it makes sure your wheels are pointing in the right direction, this makes sure that they stay flat on the ground and both tyres have even wear.
- Tread indicator are an easy way to tell if you need new tyres or not. They are little block in the middle of the grooves in your tread, that block indicates the maximum amount of wear on your tyre, anything below it means the tyre will not perform as it was designed to. Motoring authorities will also make you change it before you can get a road permit/registration.
Bonus Round!
There are two ways of ensuring your cars well being and your safety.
1 - Do you research, 99% of the time the issue you have is already been mentioned somewhere on the Internet, its solution is there too. Dedicated forums and general Youtube searches are your best friends when wanting to find information fast.
2 - Know your limits. After researching if you think that the job at hand is too difficult for you to tackle (many of them are) then get a professional to do it. Incorrectly doing something can lead to even major issue which will cost mega money.
I really like to appreciate your blog on keeping the car healthy, just reading through the 10 steps it reminds me on how many little things I miss out on! Excellent information on how to manage the car and to keep it smooth from any problems. :)
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