Knowing how to do these car maintenance tasks yourself will set you apart from the crowd.
Do you dread taking your car in for a tune-up or oil change? The good news is that you don’t have to rely on expensive professionals to handle these routine tasks.
With the right tools, knowledge, and time, you can do the car maintenance tasks we discuss here yourself and skip the shop. Save some money and gain satisfaction by performing these tasks at home.
Changing Your Oil
It’s important to check your oil and change it when necessary regularly. You can easily do this yourself, although it does require patience and some basic knowledge. Begin by researching the type of oil your car needs (your owner’s manual should tell you). Then, find the oil filter cap and loosen it with an oil filter wrench.
Remove the old filter and replace it with the new one. Ensure you tighten it securely before continuing.
Finally, unscrew the drain plug from beneath your car, let the old oil drain out into a pan, clean up any messes, put in new oil, and reattach the drain plug. You’re done! Just remember to dispose of old motor oil properly.
Changing Your Air Filter
An air filter traps dirt, dust particles, and other debris that could otherwise damage your engine or get into your cabin’s air conditioning system. It’s simple enough to change—just locate it in your vehicle. It’s likely either under the hood or behind a glove box. From there, unfasten its screws or snaps depending on its type and size, and remove the old filter carefully so as not to spill debris everywhere.
After that, insert a new one in its place (ensuring that it fits correctly), and refasten everything back together again. Voila! You’ve changed your air filter successfully!
Replacing Wiper Blades
It might be time for a replacement if you have trouble seeing through rain or snow when driving due to streaky wiper blades. Thankfully, this is also an easy task. Ensure you purchase a set that matches your vehicle’s make and model number. You want the blades to fit correctly onto the windshield wiper arms.
Once ready, lift each arm away from the windshield glass until it clicks into place with its corresponding joint clips. Remove the old blades and attach the new ones. Then, let the wipers fall so that they snap back against the glass firmly. Now, they’re ready for action!
Detailing Your Car
The last step in caring for your car is to give it a good detail. This includes washing, waxing, and vacuuming your vehicle’s exterior and interior. Start by gathering all the necessary supplies, such as car wash soap, sponges or cloths, wax, vacuum attachments, and a detailing brush.
Begin by washing your car’s exterior, then move on to waxing and buffing it. Finally, use the vacuum attachments to clean out all the nooks and crannies in your vehicle’s interior. Attend to the seats, carpets, door panels, console compartments, etc. There are many other detailing tips to make your car look new, but these are the basics.
With these easy steps in mind, anyone can handle basic car maintenance tasks without relying on professionals—all while saving time and money too! So don’t be afraid of getting dirty with DIY auto maintenance. These few simple tips will help get you started in no time!