The Girl’s Guide To Car Maintenance
There’s nothing more infuriating as a woman than standing in the garage while a mechanic tries to overcharge you for repairs to your car, because he assumes you don’t know anything about it. Instead of having to phone your brother, or accept your husband’s mocking, every time your engine is making a strange noise, learn some basic car maintenance tips, so you can be in charge of your own car.
Learn The Basics
There are some basic maintenance tasks that all cars need on a regular basis. Learning how to do them yourself will save you money instead of paying a professional, or will save you the embarrassment of having to ask for help.
Learn how to top up your washer fluid. This is a really simple task once you’ve identified where the fluid goes, and will take less than a minute to do. Learn how to check your tire pressure. In most cars, you’ll find a sticker on the driver’s side door which tiles you what your tire pressure should be. Unscrew the air cap on the tire and press the gauge into the slot. Easy.
Another simple task is checking your oil level. All you do is slide the dipstick out of the engine. Wipe it clean, and pop it back. Lift it back out and see where the oil level is. There should be some guidelines on the stick to show you where to look. If it’s low, just top up the oil tank.
Learn How To Change A Flat Tire
Don’t end up stranded at the side of the road with a flat tire and no idea how to change it. If you don’t have a spare tire, get one, and store it safely in the car. Ask someone to teach you how to change it, or find a guide on YouTube. You might find yourself very grateful of the skill one day!
Learn To Jump Start
Accidentally left a light on in the car overnight and now can’t get the engine to start. First, check the battery is actually the problem. To do this, check to see if the headlights or any interior lights come on. If they don’t, the battery is probably dead.
To jump start a car, you’ll need a second car with a working battery. Check the location of the battery in each car, and then park the cars close together. Turn off everything in both cars. With your jumper cables, attach the red clips to the positive terminal of the battery (it’ll have POS or a plus sign on it). Attach one black clip to the negative terminal of the working battery. Attach the other black slip to an unpainted metal surface on the car. The strut that holds up the hood is ideal. Start the working car and let the engine run for a few minutes. Try your engine. If it doesn’t work, check the connections and let the other engine run for five minutes before trying again.
Buy The Right Gas
Filling your with good quality gas will prolong its life. Choose gas from a trusted company whenever you fill up.
Try to avoid letting the tank get less than a quarter full. The gas tank can get sediment inside it, and letting the car run too empty runs the risk of that sediment getting into the fuel filter.
Keep Things Clean
Caring for your car will help it last longer. Make sure you clean the car inside and out, even in winter, to get rid of dirt buildup. If you have a leather interior, care for it with proper leather conditioner to keep it supple and in good condition.
Keep an old blanket or towels in the car to protect your interior if you ever need to move anything dirty, whether that’s picking up second hand furniture or driving home with the dog after a muddy walk.
Know When It’s Time To Call A Professional
While it’s important to know how to take the best care of your car, it’s also important to know when you’re beaten. If you’re not sure how to do something, always take your car to a mechanic instead of trying to fix the problem yourself. This is much safer for you and your car. For things like transmission repair, engine repairs or anything else you’re not sure about, call in the professionals.
Knowing how to look after your own car is very rewarding and will help you keep your car in top condition, without having to rely on others.
Tia, and TipsfromTia.com is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.