People all across the country are learning how to change their own oil.  Do you want to save hundreds of dollars each year and feel satisfied after the job is complete?  Of course!  It will not be easy the first time you change your oil, but with practice, comes ease and success.  Try to continue this process,  before deciding to go back to the dealership or car service company.  First, the tools you will need for the job include the following:

• a 3/8-drive socket set

• a combination wrench set

• an oil filter wrench

• a pan to catch the old oil

• a funnel and a one quart freezer bag

• old newspapers and old, dirty rags

• dirty work clothes

• a new oil filter (check owner’s manual for requirements)

• enough oil to refill the engine (check owner’s manual for requirements)

Driving your car around the block will heat up the oil and make it thin.  This will help drain the oil completely from the engine.  Next, park the car on a flat surface, either on your driveway or street.  It’s necessary to add blocks or rocks behind the wheels, so your car does not roll when you are underneath it.  Wearing old clothes and a hat is recommended as you roll underneath the vehicle to locate the oil drain plug. Place old newspapers underneath the car, where the oil will come out.  This will protect the driveway or street from oil stains.  Then, pull the pan under the oil drain opening to catch the old oil.

Now, you can pop the hood of the vehicle and open the oil filler cap.  Opening this cap will help the oil drip better from the bottom of the car.  Let the oil drip out of the car for at least an hour to make sure all of the oil leaves the engine. Once an hour has passed, insert the new oil filter to protect the vehicle.  You should also place a new washer on the oil drain plug for better protection. Once the oil drain plug is back in place, begin inserting new oil into the engine, as many quarts as the automobile manufacturer recommends. which is found in the owner’s manual.  Turn the engine car on and let it idle for five minutes, while checking the car for possible leaks.  Put all of the old oil in a protective container that will not spill, such as a milk container with a screw on top.  Once the job is complete, take the old oil in the protective container to a local oil recycling center to dispose of it properly.  It is against the law to dump oil down the sink or into water drains in the street.  Many national chains of vehicle service companies will take your old oil and dispose of it properly and legally.

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Learn more  about auto repair demonstrations on our blog.

In the last post, we covered general tips and tricks for performing an oil change yourself. While there are many locations such as Kansas City Auto Repair that are more than capable of providing this service quickly, it’s sometimes a little more rewarding to perform this routine type of auto maintenance yourself. To compliment our previous posts, here’s a video to better illustrate the steps you’ll need to take for a quick lube.

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More video repair tips and tutorials will be featured soon.

Changing your car’s oil on your own is a relatively simple task that will help you save some extra cash. Purchasing your own motor oil and oil filter typically runs about $20 at any auto parts store, but many oil and lube facilities charge much more than that. The added cost is the convenience of not having to jack up your car and get dirty, but performing your own oil change can be educational, save time, and keep a few extra bucks in your pocket.

Getting dirty while change your oil won’t sound appealing to plenty of drivers. But getting in the trenches appeals to people who want to take pride in do-it-yourself maintenance. While most do-it-yourself oil changes can be done quickly and painlessly, Tuscaloosa Auto Repair says it’s important to remember that oil is vital to the health of your vehicle. Honda Parts Salinas points out that forgetting an important step or making a careless mistake can easily cost more time and money. For those performing an oil change for the first time, it’s important to consult a tutorial or have a guide with you before you begin.

An oil change consists of draining old oil, adding fresh oil, and replacing the dirty oil filter. While automotive technology seems to be constantly changing, not much has changed when it comes to this type of vehicle maintenance. If you’ve performed an oil change on a car years ago, Hyundai Service Millville suggests that you will be perfectly capable of changing your oil again.

A common concern for those considering a do-it-yourself oil change is whether such a procedure will void the vehicle’s warranty. Luckily, if you change the oil and filter in the recommended fashion, you should have no problem. However, Minneapolis Ford Service recommends keeping receipts and records to indicate that maintenance was performed.

If you absolutely want to have someone else perform your oil change, there are plenty of options, including a car dealer, a lube service facility, or just about any repair shop. Each location varies in terms of cost and time required for the oil change to be performed explains Toyota Quick Lube Costa Mesa. Some dealerships have quick lube facilities that service all makes and models so you may want to do a bit of research to find the right service location.

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Many cars feature drum brakes in the rear. Although most of your vehicle’s stopping power comes from the front disc brakes, your drum brakes also require regular maintenance to ensure the utmost stopping power and safety.

To begin inspecting the rear brakes, you’ll need to jack the car up and remove the rear wheel and tire. Try to service one drake at a time, rather than trying to do them both. This will provide you with a guide when reassembling if you need one advises one Ford parts Collegeville retailer. You’ll also want to wash excess debris and brake dust off of the drum to be able to inspect wear and tear. You’ll want to look for any cracks in the drum and make sure that the hydraulic wheel cylinder isn’t leaking any fluids.

Measuring the drum is important an auto body shop Richmond says to determine if it is the appropriate size for your vehicle. This will require taking micrometer measurements along the inside of the drum. If the drum measures less than the maximum specifications outlined by the vehicle’s manufacturer, then Acura Service St Louis suggests it will need to be machined by a mechanic. If the drum is more than the maximum measurements, it will need to be replaced.

The brake shoes may also need to be replaced if they’ve been worn down significantly. If the lining is doesn’t meet the manufactures requirements, it will need to be replaced recommends Suzuki Service Rochester, and to do this you’ll need brake pliers. You’ll also need to remove the brake shoe return springs.

During this process it’s important to check for any leaks that may have developed. Leaking hydraulic fluid can be dangerous and Medford used car dealers say it could reduce stopping power. To do this appropriately requires loosening the brake line and checking the bolts located on the back of the cylinder. Be aware that inspecting this can be a bit awkward due to the position of such components and the bolts may be a bit difficult to reach.

When replacing a brake cylinder, always place the cylinder on the first. Afterward, bolt this it into place and reconnect the brake line. Manchester NH car dealers stress that it’s important to replace the cylinder before the shoes. In addition, you’ll want to replace the back shoe before the primary shoe. Using your brake pliers, you can apply the brake springs next. If you get lost during reassembly, you can inspect the owner’s manual, or look over the brake on the other side of the vehicle.

A turkey baster could come in handy to drain old brake fluid and add fresh fluid. After all steps are done, they can be repeated for the drum brake on the other side of the vehicle.

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Learn how to change your brakes with ease.

Oil changes are one of the most important auto maintenance requirements. But unfortunately, an oil change is often seen as a low priority in one’s busy schedule. Changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles may seem like too much, but it is an important step in ensuring your engine remains running its best. Going 4 months or 4,000 miles won’t hurt your engine, but it is not good to get in the habit of putting off an oil change, which is something that can easily be done yourself!

To begin changing your oil, gather all necessary tools.  The most important items to have are jack stands, a socket wrench set, and also a pan to drain the oil into. Once you have everything you need, turn your car on and let it run for about 10 minutes. Having the engine warmed up will allow the oil to drain a bit faster says Ashland Ford. Your garage may be the best place to change your oil. Either way, you’ll want to perform an oil change on level ground.

Next, you’ll want to crawl underneath your vehicle and locate the oil drain plug, which is most likely near the center of the engine. For the exact location, Richmond VA oil change specialists recommend checking your owner’s manual first. Once you have your oil pan underneath your plug and remove it using the socket wrench. Stay clear as you remove the plug as the oil will be hot!

Once all of the oil is drained, replace the plug and tighten with your socket wrench. Now you’ll want to replace the oil filter as well. Again consult the owner’s manual to find its location. Afterwards, use a funnel to add in your new oil. Oil capacity is generally around four or five courts and again your owner’s manual will tell you the exact measurement. Once you’ve added the new oil, Honda Parts Los Angeles recommends letting your car run for a couple minutes. Check your dipstick and add more oil if necessary. Last but not least, dispose of oil properly and bring to a recycling center or an auto body shop.

Oil changes are not complicated, but whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it, make sure you do it regularly. Also, a quality oil or synthetic oil is ideal to improve longevity.

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We finally covered oil changes so look out for other do it yourself car mainteance tips and tricks.

Before draining the fluid in the radiator, you’ll want to let the engine cool down first -  an important step that Auto Body Louisville says is often forgotten! Leave the car turned off for several hours to help ensure the engine compartment isn’t hot. One reason for this is that when the engine and radiator is hot, the pressure inside goes up and opening the cap could lead to severe injury for you or for those around you.

The next step is to detach the battery before draining the radiator. This will ensure that the fan in the front of the radiator doesn’t suddenly turn on while you have your hands around the radiator and will help prevent any injury that could occur. Albuquerque used cars dealers also suggests that you’ll want to prepare a plastic container before hand that the coolant could drain into. Make sure it is a sturdy container that can safely and securely store the harmful fluid, recommends Body Shop Chicago. You may consider placing a blanket or tarp over the engine to prevent any coolant from spraying on to other engine components.

After these precautions are taken, you may then open the radiator cap which is located at the top portion of the radiator. Land Rover Service Aurora says will help reduce the pressure in the radiator and help the fluid flow out when it’s drained from the bottom of the radiator. Then, remove the plug from the bottom of the radiator and empty fluids into the container.

Do not move the container until all fluid appears to have been emptied from the container warns Newark Dodge dealers. Using a hose, you may want to flush the radiator out with water to remove and other debris that may be present within the radiator. Once it has drained again completely, place the plug back into the bottom of the radiator and fill the radiator with coolant or anti-free from the top based on the manufacturer-recommended amount. After the radiator is filled, place the cap back on, connect the battery, and then check for any leaks. After that, the last step is to take the container of radiator fluid to your nearest recycling facility for proper disposal.

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We’re always interested in DIY auto repair. Keep checking back for more do-it-yourself tips.

Almost every car dealer places a sticker on their cars to advertise to other drivers where you purchased your vehicle from.  The problem is that many people simply don’t want to be a driving advertisement. But removing these sometimes annoying stickers can be done fairly easily without causing any damage to glass or paint.

To prepare to remove dealer stickers, you’ll want to have a plastic spatula, some type of glue or adhesive remover, or an adhesive removal spray or bug spray. To begin the removal, Windshield Repair Pittsburgh says you’ll want to wash the area around the sticker with warm, soapy water. Then spray the adhesive or bug remover over the sticker. Once the sticker is soaked, you’ll want use the use the spatula to pry off the sticker.

When you have most of the sticker off your new car, you can take the adhesive removal and apply it to any remaining adhesive that may be on the area. If you’re having trouble getting the sticker off, Toyota Service Minneapolis recommends applying heat via a hair dryer which may also also be helpful. The sticker may also require a bit of elbow grease to remove it entirely. Minneapolis Collision Center always warn customers to avoid using razor blades or other types of metal scrapping tools as this will likely scratch your window or paint.

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Get the best auto repair tips and tricks on this blog.

The first thing to do is to keep your eye on the temperature gauge recommends Los Angeles Body Shop. If you see that the gauge is rising, it means that your vehicle may be on the verge of overheating. The best thing to do is to pull over and shut the vehicle off, but this obviously guarantees that you will not be able to arrive at your destination on time.

If your vehicle begins to overheat and you need to keep moving to your destination, San Diego collision centers say the best thing to do is to turn the car’s heater on full, which will help blow cool air into the engine. In addition to cranking up the heater, you’ll want to drive slow to keep the engine from working too hard. Eventually, Nissan Washington DC stresses that you’ll want a mechanic to take a look at the engine and inspect the coolant level, radiator, and the thermostat.

Having your cooling system checked as soon as possible will prevent serious engine damage. Although simply turning your heater on may not work all the time on all vehicles, it is a proven way to hell curb an overheating engine if you catch it early.

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