If you have taken an automotive course in school or when getting your license, then the chances are that you have already been given an adequate guide to perform vehicle maintenance with. Every precision machine with moving parts will require periodical maintenance; a car in particular will need a special kind of care. Taking time to maintenance your car will help it run smoothly for years to come.
Vehicle maintenance should be fairly straightforward for experienced car owners to perform. Many schools and licensing agencies will also have had courses on vehicle maintenance as part of a compulsory learning course, too. For car owners who have not taken these courses, reading through your cars manuals, or a simple search on a search engine can help you find a good vehicle maintenance guide to get started.
Vehicle maintenance should be fairly straightforward for experienced car owners to perform. Many schools and licensing agencies will also have had courses on vehicle maintenance as part of a compulsory learning course, too. For car owners who have not taken these courses, reading through your cars manuals, or a simple search on a search engine can help you find a good vehicle maintenance guide to get started.
Getting Started
More obsessive-compulsive drivers may check everything on their car before even starting up the engine for a short trip across town. Drivers can take a cue from these kinds of people by keeping a checklist of the parts of the car that will need maintenance sooner or later. A checklist can also include the necessary safety gear and procedures before getting your car on the road, too.
You may need some basic tools before getting started on your vehicle maintenance:
- Wrenches – This can include different kinds of wrenches used for different parts of the car. You can have a tire wench to remove the wheels of the car, a set of socket wrenches with replaceable heads to service parts of the engine, among others.
- Screwdrivers – Some parts of the car, like the door panels and other internal parts, may be held to the car by screws instead of bolts. A good set of screwdrivers can make in-depth work in the interior of the car much easier.
- An Open Container – Changing the oil of a car can be messy business, especially when it leaks from under the car. When changing the oil of your car, keep a spare can or another container with an open lid handy to make liquid management much easier.
- Tire Jack – This tool can be useful for vehicle maintenance both in the garage and on the road. Compact tire jacks which can easily be stored in the trunk of a car without taking up much space exist on the market today. You may opt to get a larger one for your garage in order to perform vehicle maintenance.
- Tire Pressure Gauge – Common tire pressure gauges can be found at gas stations, or mounted to the walls of auto shops. Nowadays, tire pressure gauges are now about the same size of a mobile phone, allowing drivers to keep one in their glove compartment to be used nearly anywhere. This can be a good tool to have for a vehicle maintenance session.
- A Loose Cloth or Rag – Your car can be home to all kinds of dirt, grease, loose oil, and other things that can make your hands dirty. Keep a rag around to wipe off the dirt from both the car and your hands from time to time. Pack some gloves too, if you want to keep your hands both clean and safe.
- Pliers – A set of pliers can be good for performing maintenance on your car battery, in order to minimize the risk of electric shock.
What To Check and Service
- Oil – Checking the oil in your car can never be done too often. The oil in your car is essential to the operation of the engine, so checking and changing the oil of your car often can help your car running for the many years to come.
- Brake Fluid – Your brakes are also essential to the overall operation and safety of your car. The brake fluid levels should also be checked and changed periodically to prevent accidents and complete failure of the braking system.
- Tires – With a handy air pressure gauge, check the air levels if your tire regularly. Tires with too much or too little air pressure will shorten the lifespan of your tires, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
- Engine Coolant – Overheating your engine in the middle of the road can be as inconvenient as it is unsafe. Whether you are going on a long trip to the country or simply taking a drive to work or school, make sure your coolant level is topped up.
- Car Battery – Dirt, grime and blemishes can build up on the contacts of your car battery over time. This can affect your batterys ability to power up your car, so clean the contacts every once in a while.
- Lights – It is illegal in some places to have non-functioning brake lights or head lights. They are also critical to the safety of both you and other drivers on the road, so flick them off and on while having someone else confirm that they are indeed working.
- Belts – The belts of your car should be outright replaced if they show wear, tear, fraying ends, or cracks. Silicone or other oil-based lubricants are not recommended to maintenance the belts of your car.
- Spark Plugs – Both the wires and spark plugs should be replaced when you decide to replace your spark plugs. Part of your vehicle maintenance guide should include checking for faulty spark plugs which cause decreased fuel mileage or slow engine start-up times.
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