Basic Maintenance Anyone Can Do to Save Money on Car Repair

We Americans love our cars. The sound of that V8 engine can get anyone one with a pulse a bit of a rush. The thought of getting 50 miles per gallon also makes a lot of people happy. The thing about cars though, is that they are complicated machines and they can get very pricey to maintain without proper care.

Now it may take a bit of elbow grease and effort to do more complicated tasks but I assure you these jobs are so simple, if my puppy had hands he could do it. We don’t need to rely on car dealerships, or should I call them “stealerships,” to do such simple maintenance.

But before attempting to do anything with your car, please read the car manual completely so you have a better understanding about your vehicle and how it functions. Who knows, maybe there’s some fancy car function you never even knew about. For more detailed instructions on each job, check out Youtube.

• Oil Change:  This one can get a little dirty but really it’s as simple as unscrewing ONE bolt out and watching the oil come out of the car and into an oil pan. Fill up with new oil as noted on car manual.
• Oil Filter Replacement:  Find oil filter, unscrew using your hands and put in new oil filter.
• Wiper Blade Replacement:  Remove old wiper blade and replace with new wiper blade.
• Air Filter Change:  Unscrew bolts or clips depending on the vehicle and remove air filter. Replace with new one.
• Cabin Air Filter Change:  Same as above
• Fluids:  This includes washer, coolant, power steering, and brake fluid. Fill fluids up to appropriate line and you’re done.
• Car Wash & Wax:  Believe it or not, this is a very simple maintenance that most people overlook. When we ignore our car for long period and let dirt and junk accumulate in the interior and exterior, it ruins the cars appearance! In the long run, that means diminished re-sale value and a car that may need a new paint job.
• Tire Pressure:  What’s the first thing that hits the road when we are driving our vehicle? The tires! Each PSI that it’s off by means our car mileage may suffer and unnecessary tire wear can occur.

A little DIY can go a long way into saving money. It feels great knowing that we are able to do something on our own and not have to always pay someone to do a simple task. Remember to only do the jobs that you feel you can handle and ask for help if the job becomes too complicated. Happy wrenching everyone!