Your vehicle can prove one of the most expensive investments you will make in your life. You may pay a high upfront cost, while regular maintenance can also drain you financially. But you can reduce or even eliminate some of these costs by knowing which car maintenance tasks you can do yourself.
Changing Oil
Typically, you should change your oil every 3,000 miles; otherwise, you risk engine damage. Changing your own oil can reduce the price of a change by more than half and requires very little in the way of equipment.
What You Need
- Ratchet
- Funnel
- Oil pan
- Car jack
Basics To Changing Your Oil
After securing your car on the jack, make sure your engine is cool; don’t change your oil with a hot engine. Unscrew the drain plug in your vehicle’s oil pan and allow all the fluid to drain into your bucket. Replace the drain plug and move to the front of your car, where you will replace the oil filter with a new one. Then, using your funnel, start pouring the new oil into your engine.
New Tires
Tires are very expensive components. But you can find ways to decrease the cost of tire replacements and soften the financial blow of having to replace all four of your tires.
What You Need
- New tires
- Car jack
- Lug wrench
Basics To Changing Tires
Like changing your oil, make sure your car is secure when on the jack. Remove the tire’s lug nuts with your lug wrench. Set the lug nuts aside and remove the tire from the rotor, replacing it with the new tire. Insert the lug nuts and tighten them, but don’t make them too tight.
Brake Pads
Brake pads typically last about 20,000 miles, and you may notice when they start failing. Don’t wait to perform the necessary maintenance; driving with faulty brakes can lead to disaster.
What You Need
- Lug wrench
- Adjustable wrench
- C-clamp
- Car jack
Basics To Changing Brake Pads
Remove your wheel’s lug nuts and set the tire aside. Locate your brake caliper and remove the bolts on the back; following this, remove the caliper. Slip off the old brake pads and replace them with the new ones.
Have Experience
Performing car maintenance tasks can prove difficult. Know your car beforehand and avoid the more critical components until you have more experience.
