|
Got somebody on your list that's diving into doing their own auto repairs and maintenance? They'll need the tools and supplies to do the job. These Top 10 gift ideas are reasonably priced and essential to the home mechanic. And you can buy them now from one of About.com's trusted retailers. Now that's worth a click!
|
|
|
Winter is upon us, and winter driving comes with it. While safety is an important consideration all year long, there are certainly some auto maintenance jobs and safety checks that are specific to chilled air and winter driving that are a good idea to check into before we're knee deep in the season. To be sure you don't end up a road popsicle, or even worse end up with your holiday budget on ice thanks to unexpected repairs, have a look under the hood to be sure things are ship shape. As with any change of season, you should go to your regular maintenance log to make sure you are up to date on the maintenance items that should be taken care of throughout the year. The change of seasons is a great time to go through some once-a-year or twice-a-year auto maintenance tasks.
|
|
|
Most people know the green stuff in your radiator keeps your engine from turning into a block of ice in the winter, but did you know that it also helps keep things cool in the summer? All too often people are driving around with just water in their radiator because they think they don't need the green stuff until it gets cold.
Radiator coolant actually raises the boiling point of the water, allowing it to carry more heat away from the engine, and that means cooler running. If you're running low, things can get steamy fast. Think of your coolant as a spring dance chaperone, there to keep things nice and cool even when you're doing a lot of moving around.
|
|
|
If you checked your oil and found the level to be low, you should add a quart. Oil is sold in quarts, so if you grab a plastic bottle at your local giganti-gas, you've got a quart. There are different types of oil, called "weights," so check your car's owner's manual to see what they recommend. If you can't find the manual or you're in a pinch, you can always add a quart of 10W-30 or 10W-40 safely (they're labeled right on the front). If you're extra worried about cleanliness, buy a funnel, too, but it's not a must. With your hood safely propped open, look for a big screw cap right in the middle of the engine. It'll have a picture of what looks like a watering can on it, and some even say OIL. Again, you can consult the owner's manual on this.
|
|
|
Why is it that we never seem to remember to change our windshield wipers? You know you need 'em, you know they're cheap, you know how easy it is to install new wipers, but your windshield is still carrying those worn out, useless strips of rubber.
There's one time we always remember to change our wipers - when it starts to rain. Unfortunately that's the worst time to tackle such an easy job. The next 10 minutes of your time, outside in the dry, sunny weather, should be spent replacing your windshield wipers, so check out these easy steps.
|
|
|
A clean windshield can be very important in terms of your safety. If you can't see, you can't drive! Or you shouldn't be driving. Luckily, there's no excuse for driving with a dirty windshield since your car came equipped with its own cleaning system. All you have to do is keep the bottle full and pull the little lever inside the car.
|
|
|
You should never let anything come between your car and a good battery connection. If you want the day to come to a grinding halt in a hurry, driving with corroded battery posts is the way to do it. It takes only a millimeter of crunchy white residue to keep your car from starting.
|
|
|
Spark plug wires are pretty durable. They aren't a moving part so they don't wear out too often. A careful inspection of your plug wires can avoid any problems.
The only thing that can really go wrong with a plug wire is a break in the insulation. The insulation (the rubber on the outside of the wire) keeps the electricity where it needs to be so it sparks on the inside of your engine, not someplace else before it gets there. If the insulation is cracked, the spark will jump off the wire, or arc, onto something metal under the hood.
|
|
|
Brakes are pretty much the most important safety device on your car. If you've even partially lost your brakes in the past, you'll remember the change of underwear that followed. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers while saving you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.
|
|
|
Checking your car's oil level is the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your car's engine. In the time it takes to snap into a Slim-Jim, you can use a dipstick. Oil is the life blood of your car. Without it, you wouldn't make it three miles. Follow these quick steps and you'll have one biggie checked off your car's regular maintenance list.
|
|
|
