Do It Yourself Car Maintenance Tips

No matter where you are or what you do there are ways you can help yourself maintain your car. We have put together this list of do it yourself maintenance tips in order to give you a definite set of items, that as long as you feel comfortable, you can safely do at you leisure. Of course, you will want to do many of these on a regular basis so if you detect any changes that you feel need to be addressed, we can take a look at them sooner than later.

  • CHECK OIL- Most oil dipsticks have a yellow handle. Only use recommended viscosity (oil type) specified for your vehicle. You should be able to find this in your vehicles manual. Look for this in the glove compartment.
  • Oil level should be within the marks shown on the dipstick, with the engine off and the vehicle parked on a level surface. If you decide to change the oil yourself remember it is a law that USED OIL ALWAYS BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.
  • TRANSMISSION FLUID- Most automatic transmissions have a transmission dipstick with a red handle. Fluid should be checked with engine running and vehicle in park, unless otherwise noted. Never overfill fluid as damage could occur.
  • TIRE WEAR- Inspect tires for uneven tread wear. Tread may wear unevenly due to over or under air inflation. In most cases uneven tread wear is a result of vehicle in need of alignment. As a rule of thumb, tires should be rotated every other oil change.
  • WORN BELTS- Most belts are located on the front side of the engine. Signs of worn belts include cracks, tears, frayed edges, and belt squeals. Belts are generally good until cracks are seen or noises are heard.
  • WIPER BLADES- Worn wiper blades can cause streaking or scratching on windshield. Wipers should be inspected regularly for wear. NOTE: If they look worn, they probably are.
  • AIR FILTERS- Air filters should be replaced every 12,000- 15,000 miles. Some air filters can be removed and dusted out. A clean air filter eases the flow of air into your engine, improving fuel economy.
  • CABIN AIR FILTER- Cleans the air you breathe inside your vehicle. This could be very important if you have allergies or other upper respiratory conditions. A foul odor inside the vehicle may be a symptom of a contaminated or old cabin air filter.
  • FUEL FILTER- Filters fuel from the fuel tank before it reaches the engine. Can prevent fuel injectors or carburetors from clogging and sticking.
  • ANTI-FREEZE- Never check cooling system when engine is running or when engine is hot. Most coolant types are either bright orange, bright green or bright yellow. Refer to owner’s manual for proper coolant type and level. If coolant looks dark, rusty, or muddy, you may want to consider a coolant system flush.

Check out the 5 tips to get better mileage.