DIY Car Maintenance
Preventative Vehicle Maintenance is one of those things that many people forget about after buying their new or used car or truck. It’s easy to just keep driving until the car tells us something is wrong.
Every new car or truck comes with an owners manual that comes with a list of routine maintenance items that need to be done at specific mileages in order to keep the warranty in place. If you buy a used car that doesn’t have the owners manual you can always get this list printed out for you at any repair shop or dealership so you know what needs to be done and when. Most people can remember to change the oil periodically, but there is a list of other things that also needs to be done. Unfortunately this leads to broken parts and extra money being spent to repair the things that just needed a little maintenance.
There are many maintenance items that you can easily do yourself, but there are a few that may be better left to the pros. I’ve written thorough guides for the most common car maintenance items. I’ve also written detailed how-to guides for any that you should be able to do yourself. Before you try these jobs, be sure to read about them first so you know what you are getting into!
Basic Car Maintenance List
1. Oil Change
Should I do an oil change myself? This article will help you decide whether to DIY or leave this job to a mechanic. Most people can learn how to do oil changes if they have the right tools and a little mechanical knowledge. There are a few things that you need to know before you get started.
Oil Change Frequency
If you asked 20 people how often you should change your oil, 15 would quote the standard “every 3,000 mile” while the other 5 would have their own very different viewpoints. Find out the truth about how often you should be changing your oil.
How to Check Oil
Everyone should know how to check their own oil. This guide will show you how to do it correctly from start to finish. I’ve included pictures to make it easy to see what I’m talking about.
How to Change Oil
This step by step oil change guide will show you every step of the process. You can see the whole process from start to finish so you know exactly what is involved including the tools you need, how to jack up the car, where the important parts are located and along with a few other little known tricks.
How to Change Oil Filter
If you are changing the oil, then you need to change the filter as well. This is Part 2 of my oil change guide. Learn everything you need to know about replacing the oil here.
How to Top Up Oil
Whether you’ve just changed the oil or you’ve noticed that your oil is low this guide will help you see how to put oil in your car. I explain the right way to do it from start to finish.
2. Fuel Filter
Is this something I should even do myself? Fuel filters used to be easy to change, they were easy to get to, you just needed one or two tools and they were super cheap. Times have definitely changed. Most fuel filters are under the vehicle, need special tools to change and aren’t that cheap. With all that being said you can still do this job yourself, but you should read my advice first.
3. Air Filter
Should I replace air filters myself? While this is a fairly basic car maintenance job that you can DIY, you should read this first because there are a few things you need to know before you proceed.
When to Change Air Filter
Don’t listen to your crazy uncle Dave when he tells you to change your air filter every five years. Find out the facts about when you should change it here.
How to Change Air Filter
This is usually an easy job, but there are some things that you can mess up. Be sure to read my guide before you try this yourself. To help you along, I have also included several photos of the important points.
Basic car maintenance is something that you need to put into your monthly budget and keep in the front of your mind. Rather than closing one eye and then running into expensive problems later on, sticking to your car maintenance schedule will save you a lot of time, money and trouble in the long run.
