These car maintenance tips and tricks will save you a lot of time and money!
Owning a car is actually a pretty big responsibility. We may know how to drive it, but not all of us know how to fix things when they go wrong. Or how to make sure they don’t go wrong in the first place!
That’s why we have put together this simple list of car tricks and maintenance everyone should know so that you don’t have to spend a fortune at the mechanic or stress about these sorts of things when they happen – like changing a tyre.
Another interesting read: 6 Safe driving practices that just might save your life
Car Maintenance Tips & Tricks
1. Changing your tyre
Picture this – you are driving to work and all of a sudden you feel like your car just isn’t driving the same, something feels strange. You pull over and find out that you have a flat tyre. But, before you start to stress and freak out – just breathe. You are going to be just fine because we have put together this easy guide on how to change your tyre in no time – just click here and give it a read.
2. Checking your tyre pressure
This tip is an important one! It helps with ensuring your tyres last long, helps with steering reaction and even improves your fuel efficiency – which is all pretty great stuff! The pressure of your tyres will depend on your car. Have a look in your car manual for what this should be.
If you have changed the tyres of your car since you bought it (i.e. they don’t come standard with the car), then you will need to adjust this pressure accordingly. You can Google the pressure for your new tyres online. The next time you pull into a fuel station, ask one of the friendly petrol attendants to help you check your tyre pressure and change it if need be.
3. Checking and changing your engine oil
This is something a number of us overlook or just forget about.
The oil in our engine is important for helping your engine to work smoothly. If your engine oil is too low or if it is too old, then this can lead to your engine becoming overheated and damaged and even a seized motor.
Here’s how you check your oil:
- Park your car on level ground to make sure you get an accurate reading. Switch off your engine and pull up your handbrake.
- Open your bonnet and wait about a minute after turning your engine off for the oil to settle.
- Locate your oil dipstick (the location of this is found in your car manual), pull this out and then wipe it clean with an old rag.
- Place the dipstick back and wait a few seconds for the oil to level out.
- Then take the dipstick out again and look at the oil level according to the lines on this stick. It should be between minimum and maximum levels, if it is below minimum then you will need to fill this up.
- You can do this at a garage and ask one of the petrol attendants to help you – most fuel garages sell motor oil.
- Check the oil levels again once this is done to make sure they are correct.
4. Replacing your windscreen wipers
A number of us don’t appreciate our windscreen wipers as much as we should. But imagine driving through a thunderstorm without them? Faulty wipers need to be replaced, and you need to make sure that your wipers are always working correctly – for the sake of your safety and those around you. Luckily for you – it’s an easy DIY fix.
Here’s what you need to do: Pop into your local hardware store and ask them for a new pair of wipers for your car – your car may need specific ones so have a look in your car manual or ask a mechanic. They might even be willing to replace them for you. Just ask!
If you are doing it yourself, then here are the steps to changing your wipers:
- With some wipers you can replace the rubber squeegee part with a new wiper blade insert – while with others you might have to replace the entire blade.
- Find the mechanism that unlatches the blade – this should be quite clear to see.
- Different manufacturers have different hook designs, with some, you can just pinch and pull to remove the blade. In others, there will be a button to push or a latch to pull to unhook the wiper.
- Unlatch the wiper blade.
- You might have to jiggle it a bit. Make sure you wrap the bar wiper arm or hook in a towel to prevent any damage done to your windshield if the wipers turn off if the wiper arm smacks the windshield.
- Some replacement blades will come with a “cleaner” which will help in removing any debris, grease and oil from the new blade. Make sure you remove the plastic protector from the rubber side of the wiper blade.
- Latch on the new wiper blades by reversing what you did to take the old ones off and you’re all set to take on any thunderstorm that comes your way!
5. Jumpstarting your car
Imagine this: It’s the day of a big meeting you have spent WEEKS prepping for. You have your best blazer on, your hair in on point and you’re looking and feeling great! You’re running a little late already because you had a few more points to prepare for the big day and as you get in your car, turn on the ignition, your car won’t start. And it’s your battery.
Here’s what you do:
- Take out your jumper cables – it’s always a good idea to keep a set of these in your car
- Place both the cars in park or neutral and shut off both the engines – also make sure the handbrakes are also up! Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your batter (it will have a POS or a + on it) it might also just be bigger than the negative – let’s say it together now – RED for POSITIVE
- Then attach the other red clip to the positive terminal of the other car
- Do the same with the black clips but now attaching these to the negative terminals
- Start the engine of the car that is working and let it run for a few minutes
- Then start your car – keep your engine running while you remove the clips – be careful to only touch the rubber of the jumper cables and not the metal parts
- If your car won’t start after five minutes of leaving the engine running of the other car, then you may need to replace your battery entirely.
Need a more in-depth guide? Read this: How to Jump Start a Car Safely: A Step-By-Step Guide
6. Using toothpaste to clean your headlights
This trick is a great one to remember!
Using a rag, some water to rinse it off afterwards and some toothpaste, simply scrub your grimy headlights with toothpaste to remove any debris buildup. The result are some clear and great shining lights!
7. Bonus! Get yourself some affordable car insurance
Here’s the deal: Although there are a number of handy car maintenance tips that you can keep on hand to help keep your car in tip top condition, there are of course some unexpected expenses such as bumper bashings that cannot be fixed at home.
That’s why it pays to have car insurance. And not just any car insurance, but one that makes your life simpler.
Here’s why Oneplan Car and Household Insurance is the simple, hassle-free option:
- No vehicle or home inspections
- Paperless claims
- Cover what you want to at the price you can afford
- And it only takes one minute to sign up!
While you’re here, read this: 7 Easy Peasy Home Maintenance Tips for the Smart Homeowner
Your Insurance Family,
Oneplan
