Handling routine maintenance on your own, rather than outsourcing professional automotive service, can save the driver up to $ 150 or more each year. This may seem like a nominal figure, but it certainly adds up year after year. And who wouldn’t want an extra couple hundred dollars in their wallet for the holidays?

Performing your own vehicular maintenance in areas of your car that are DIY-approved can save drivers time and money. It is vital to only perform car maintenance that does not require the tools and training of a professional mechanic. Follow the DIY approved vehicular maintenance checklist and keep your car safe and running smoothly. Read on to learn the five types of routine car maintenance you can do on your own!

Oil changes

Yes, you can change your own oil and oil filter without the help of a professional mechanic. All you need is the right supplies and a little foreknowledge, and you’re ready to change your car oil yourself! Purchase a new oil filter, an oil pan to store dirty oil, a car jack, a set of plugs, a funnel, and a couple of bottles of the motor oil that your car uses. Safety glasses, rubber gloves, a flashlight, and some clean cloths wouldn’t hurt either. The oil should be changed every 5,000 miles, or sooner depending on how often you drive.

First, run your car’s engine for a few minutes to warm up the oil because hot oil flows more easily. Next, raise your vehicle off the ground with the car jack and place the oil pan under your vehicle.

Next, unscrew the oil cap located under the hood and the oil drain plug under your car. This plug usually looks like a single bolt under your car’s oil compartment. Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for instructions on how to locate the oil drain plug.

Put on the rubber gloves and use a socket wrench to unscrew the drain plug a few turns, then use your hands to unscrew the rest of the way. Let all dirty oil drain completely. Replace the drain plug and then change the oil filter. Once all of this is done, you can use your funnel to pour your new, clean oil into your engine.

The next step is to replace the oil filter. Simply unscrew the old filter, allow excess oil to drain, and then replace and tighten the filter. If you are not using paper filters, use a little oil to lubricate the edges of the new filter before screwing it into place.

Air filters

In addition to oil filters, your vehicle has air filters that must be replaced on a routine basis. These are inexpensive and can be purchased at any local automotive store or general store. Expect to pay between $ 15 and $ 20 per filter. If you don’t change your air filters, you will notice a significant decrease in gas mileage and vehicle performance over time. Fortunately, this is maintenance work that you can do yourself. It is a simple ten minute process that is easy to learn to do. Just follow the instructions in the owner’s manual!

Refrigerant

Without coolant, your car’s engine would be in very bad shape. In fact, it wouldn’t fully work after a short time without coolant. Also called radiator fluid, coolant is essential for the operation and performance of any vehicle. It prevents the inner workings of a car engine from overheating as a result of constant friction and heat production. If you have an overheated engine, the number one cause is a lack of radiator fluid. Just buy a bottle or two from your local automotive store, locate the coolant cap under your hood, and pour the solution right in.

Headlights

Did you know that you can change a burned out headlight on your own? It’s true and not many car owners know it! Since this can result in a traffic ticket or worse, lead to an accident, a burned-out headlamp is an immediate repair. And since you don’t need to make an appointment with an auto shop, you can repair this problem right away. All you need is a basic tool kit and a new light bulb!

Wiper fluid

It may seem trivial, but windshield washer fluid is one of the 7 essential automotive fluids that every vehicle requires for its functional operation and safety. And you can refill your windshield washer fluid every time it runs out. Just buy a bottle of windshield fluid and pour it through the correct tube under the hood of your car. Do this as often as you need, keeping in mind that you will probably have to do it more often in winter.

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