Routine maintenance is possibly one of the most important responsibilities of owning a car. In fact, by performing basic maintenance, owners can prolong the life of their vehicle. These are a few suggestions that can be done by most people from the comfort of their own home.

Rotating or Changing Tires

Drivers who are able to rotate or change their own tires are capable of saving hundreds of dollars and many hours of waiting every couple of years. Avoid paying for an auto club or a mechanic. It is advised to first speak with a mechanic for information or even look online how to rotate your tires step by step.

Oil Changes

When your car is due for an oil change, you can either take it to the dealership, to a local oil change company, or change the oil on your own. With proper direction, changing your own oil is a minor upkeep that can save you money. By keeping your engine healthy you can also increase your vehicle’s miles per gallon. Treat your vehicle right to increase performance.

Lighting

Every few days you should check to make sure that all of the lights are working properly. Burnt out bulbs on a vehicle can result in traffic tickets and even pose as a safety risk. Check to see that your turn signals, headlights, high beams, tail lights, running lights, and that your break lights all work properly. Being able to replace burnt out light bulbs in your own car is key. These five minute tasks can save you both time – by avoiding taking your car in for service – and money – preventing potential tickets.

Hygiene

Washing your car every so often not only keeps it looking clean and sleek, but it also helps it run just a little bit smoother. Take your vehicle to the wash during the winter months and wash it yourself during the warmer months to save some money. Having a clean car, especially one with little to no dust inside, will keep you and your car healthier. After all, it is your vehicle; take pride in it. By participating in routine maintenance and having a cleaner look and feel to your vehicle, you will appreciate your car that much more.

In all, these minor changes can save you a lot of time and money. Instead of having to drive out of your way and waste your gas money to pay for minor changes, take the initiative yourself and truly make that car your own.

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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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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.