Your Guide To Weekly Auto Maintenance: The How-To
Keeping a car running for those of us that are mechanically challenged is no small task, especially if you just don’t know where to start. Don’t let a little bit of unknown information ruin your car, learn how to take care of your automobile and if you need a simple how-to explanation, then this article is for you.
Aside from the general, “check your tires” and “change the oil” routine, there are far more important things to worry about…like what’s under the hood!
Your automobile needs a strong, healthy engine to ensure the best future and knowing what to do on a weekly basis is in your best interest.
Every Week Or Every 250-Miles, Check:
- Oil level
- Engine coolant
- Brake level
- Tires
- Windshield washer fluid
Sounds easy enough right? Maybe for some but for the car care beginner it doesn’t and there are ways to check all of those listed above that you should know about.
Checking the oil level…
Using the dipstick checks the oil level, the dipstick is that long metal piece usually with a small ring on top to pull it out that sits near the motor and runs through a tube all the way down to the oil pan.
Contrary to what most say, the oil is supposed to be checked before you drive or about fifteen minutes after your car has been driven allowing the oil time to settle to gain an accurate read. If you check it too soon, some oil may still be in the upper part of the engine.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe the end of it clean and re-insert it and pull it back out. The dipstick is marked to show levels that tell you if you need to add oil or not. Look at the end of the dipstick, if the oil is above the add mark then you don’t need to add any oil but if it’s right on “add” or below, then add a quart and check again to make sure you don’t need more.
Checking the engine coolant…
Okay, there’s not really a recommended way to check engine coolant but there are some things you should know.
- Be careful with engine coolant liquids, avoid direct contact and put caps on tight.
- Don’t leave it around for children or animals to get into—it’s deadly.
- Check before you drive, never check when your engine is hot or even warm.
- Don’t check it when the engine is running.
- Coolant should be clear in appearance, if it’s brown, rusted or dirty looking then you should drain all of the coolant out, flush the system with water and refill.
Checking the brake level…
Checking the brake fluid is a fairly simple task and when you look under the hood you should see a cap clearly marked, “brake fluid”. Anytime you’re checking anything on your vehicle, if a cap is dirty just wipe it off before you open the cap to make sure you’re not unknowingly adding some harmful debris.
The brake fluid container or reservoir as mechanics call it, should have measuring lines on the side of it and most say “MAX”. The levels should be near the “MAX” mark but beware, if it’s empty you should take your car to someone who can bleed the brakes and re-do the system. If you notice that you brake fluid levels are dramatically lower each week when you check, check all of the hoses, all the connections and the brake lines. You may need to take your vehicle to a shop to have it properly checked.
Otherwise, if there’s no sign of problems simply fill to the recommended “MAX” line and you’re set.
Checking your tires…
While you may not need new tires every week, they still need to be checked up on to make sure that there are no foreign objects present that shouldn’t be there, to make sure that they are properly inflated and to watch for signs of wear.
Look around all the tires on your vehicle on sides, tops and bottoms. Look for tiny tears, dangling rubber, objects that may be lodged into your tire and look at the tread. To check the tread simply insert a penny with Abe facing you down into a tread line, if you can see all of Abe’s head then it’s time for some new tires.
Checking the windshield wiper fluid…
How many times have well all had something on our windshield and we didn’t have any fluid? It happens all too often and can easily be avoided by maintaining the proper levels. In milder climates it’s okay to use just water but in other climates when the temperature drops to freezing, you should use windshield washer antifreeze specifically designed for colder climates.
Warning: DO NOT use “cooling system” antifreeze because it will eat your paint!
Follow the manufacturers suggested use of any product you choose and fill to the recommended fill line. As with all of the compartments, the top should be clearly marked.
Taking care of your vehicle, week-by-week is easy and the benefits of properly monitoring your cars general needs are priceless. You can save tons of money and not to mention unwanted stress.
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