Modern cars are significantly more complex than their counterparts from the 1960's and 1970's, and working on them is an even more specialized discipline. The modern mechanic needs a laptop computer as much as he needs a tool box, and for this reason even those with a decent aptitude for working on engines are opting to have their repairs done by a professional. Still, there are a number of simple car maintenance steps that anyone can do. These simple tasks will go a long way toward preventing trouble which saves you time and money as well as resulting in a safer driving experience.
--Wash your car often: While the exterior of your car isn't as important as what's under the hood it's still necessary to take care of it. A clean car looks better, of course, but it also helps in a few practical areas. Keeping your windshield clean inside and out, obviously, is crucial for safety. Washing you car often keeps your headlights clean. And, of course, frequent washing helps prevent rust and corrosion extending the life of your vehicle.
--Wash underneath your car: Washing the undercarriage of your car is a good idea in any case, and downright essential if you live where it snows a lot. The salt, sand and other chemicals used for snow removal collect underneath your vehicle and will cause rust damage faster than anything else. Even during the winter, its important to wash your car at least once a week paying special attention to the wheel wells and undercarriage.
--Clean your engine: Wash your engine, complete with soap and water, every time you wash your car. Not only will a clean engine run cooler, but washing it also cleans off crusty oil deposits, battery acid, and grime collected from the road. Let your engine run at idle to dry off before you start driving again. This is less of a problem with modern fuel injected cars, but still a good idea.
--Change and/or clean your air filter: Change your filter every time you change your oil filter. While it won't kill you to change your filter less frequently, they're so cheap and easy to replace there's really no reason to put it off. In between changes, give the filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber as well.
--Check and change your oil: Before self serve gas became the norm in the US, every full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. Even if you're like most people and go the self serve route, you should still change your oil every time you buy gas. Change your oil often--every 3,000 to 5,000 miles--and don't forget to change your oil filter. If you don't want to tackle the job yourself, there's no shortage of drive through oil change businesses that will do the job for a reasonable fee. They'll usually take care of a number of other items on this list, such as checking tire pressure and fluid levels.
--Other fluids: Change your anti-freeze every year, and eyeball the coolant reservoir anytime youre under the hood to make sure that its full. Check the transmission, brake and power-steering fluids frequently, and top off when necessary.
--Check and rotate your tires: Check the air pressure of your tires at least once a week, and keep them filled to the manufacturer specified levels. If you have a real spare tire, and not one of those useless 'donut' tires check the pressure in that as well. Rotate your tires every few months to insure even wear. Some automotive chains will rotate tires they sold free of charge. In any case, if you don't want to do this yourself any decent garage can do it for a very nominal fee. Simply checking the air pressure in your tires and rotating them periodically prevents countless problems and saves you a ton of money. Tires are expensive, and nothing will wear them out faster than improper inflation or uneven wear--not to mention the fact that worn tires are dangerous to drive on.
Emergency tools and equipment: The specifics of what you should have in your car for emergencies will depend on the type of driving you do and where you do it. Everyone should have the basics--a tire gauge, pliers (slip joint and needle nose), adjustable wrench, flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Buying quality tools will be more expensive up front but will save you money in the long run. Jumper cables aren't a bad thing to have, and a flashlight is also essential. If you live or travel somewhere it snows frequently, you'll also want to keep salt, sand, a small shovel and a blanket just in case you get snowbound and have to sleep in your vehicle. An emergency cellphone charger is also a good idea.
--Get an auto club membership: An auto club at a minimum should give you free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. AAA is the best known, but there are countless others provided by credit card companies, cellphone providers, banks, etc. Shop around and find the best deal for the services you need. A growing number of car manufacturers also include lifetime roadside assistance, and not just luxury brands--Mini Cooper and Volkswagen offer new car buyers 24 hour roadside assistance free of charge. Also, ask about the size of their provider network. In a decent sized city you'll be fine but if you live or frequently travel in less populated areas you might want to stick to AAA or another major company. There's nothing more infuriating that learning that your auto club doesn't have providers in Mesquite, Nevada or Vernal, Utah.
These tips require any real mechanical skill, but will enhance your driving experience. You'll have a safer, better running vehicle that will be more dependable and cost you less money over the long haul. - 29952
--Wash your car often: While the exterior of your car isn't as important as what's under the hood it's still necessary to take care of it. A clean car looks better, of course, but it also helps in a few practical areas. Keeping your windshield clean inside and out, obviously, is crucial for safety. Washing you car often keeps your headlights clean. And, of course, frequent washing helps prevent rust and corrosion extending the life of your vehicle.
--Wash underneath your car: Washing the undercarriage of your car is a good idea in any case, and downright essential if you live where it snows a lot. The salt, sand and other chemicals used for snow removal collect underneath your vehicle and will cause rust damage faster than anything else. Even during the winter, its important to wash your car at least once a week paying special attention to the wheel wells and undercarriage.
--Clean your engine: Wash your engine, complete with soap and water, every time you wash your car. Not only will a clean engine run cooler, but washing it also cleans off crusty oil deposits, battery acid, and grime collected from the road. Let your engine run at idle to dry off before you start driving again. This is less of a problem with modern fuel injected cars, but still a good idea.
--Change and/or clean your air filter: Change your filter every time you change your oil filter. While it won't kill you to change your filter less frequently, they're so cheap and easy to replace there's really no reason to put it off. In between changes, give the filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber as well.
--Check and change your oil: Before self serve gas became the norm in the US, every full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. Even if you're like most people and go the self serve route, you should still change your oil every time you buy gas. Change your oil often--every 3,000 to 5,000 miles--and don't forget to change your oil filter. If you don't want to tackle the job yourself, there's no shortage of drive through oil change businesses that will do the job for a reasonable fee. They'll usually take care of a number of other items on this list, such as checking tire pressure and fluid levels.
--Other fluids: Change your anti-freeze every year, and eyeball the coolant reservoir anytime youre under the hood to make sure that its full. Check the transmission, brake and power-steering fluids frequently, and top off when necessary.
--Check and rotate your tires: Check the air pressure of your tires at least once a week, and keep them filled to the manufacturer specified levels. If you have a real spare tire, and not one of those useless 'donut' tires check the pressure in that as well. Rotate your tires every few months to insure even wear. Some automotive chains will rotate tires they sold free of charge. In any case, if you don't want to do this yourself any decent garage can do it for a very nominal fee. Simply checking the air pressure in your tires and rotating them periodically prevents countless problems and saves you a ton of money. Tires are expensive, and nothing will wear them out faster than improper inflation or uneven wear--not to mention the fact that worn tires are dangerous to drive on.
Emergency tools and equipment: The specifics of what you should have in your car for emergencies will depend on the type of driving you do and where you do it. Everyone should have the basics--a tire gauge, pliers (slip joint and needle nose), adjustable wrench, flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Buying quality tools will be more expensive up front but will save you money in the long run. Jumper cables aren't a bad thing to have, and a flashlight is also essential. If you live or travel somewhere it snows frequently, you'll also want to keep salt, sand, a small shovel and a blanket just in case you get snowbound and have to sleep in your vehicle. An emergency cellphone charger is also a good idea.
--Get an auto club membership: An auto club at a minimum should give you free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. AAA is the best known, but there are countless others provided by credit card companies, cellphone providers, banks, etc. Shop around and find the best deal for the services you need. A growing number of car manufacturers also include lifetime roadside assistance, and not just luxury brands--Mini Cooper and Volkswagen offer new car buyers 24 hour roadside assistance free of charge. Also, ask about the size of their provider network. In a decent sized city you'll be fine but if you live or frequently travel in less populated areas you might want to stick to AAA or another major company. There's nothing more infuriating that learning that your auto club doesn't have providers in Mesquite, Nevada or Vernal, Utah.
These tips require any real mechanical skill, but will enhance your driving experience. You'll have a safer, better running vehicle that will be more dependable and cost you less money over the long haul. - 29952
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on thoroughbred horse racing and NFL football betting . He's a published expert on handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, mixed martial arts and boxing.
