DIY Car Care* *And Yes, We Mean You!
By Holly Ocasio Rizzo
CTW Features
Car Maintenance Often Isn’t Complicated, You Can Save Big Money By Doing It Yourself
Check this, do that: Instructions for car maintenance can sound like they’re written in Martian if that region under the hood seems as familiar to you as outer space. It can cost you, too; you can pay someone $30 to replace windshield wiper blades, a job you could do yourself in minutes for $5 – if you could figure out how to do it.
In fact, you can save plenty of time and money by doing basic things yourself, and you don’t need to be a motor-head to accomplish them. You do, however, need clear instructions. Here’s a quick how-to guide for some checkup chores that you can clip and keep with your owner’s manual.
• Inspect belts and hoses. You see black. You see rubber. So far as you know, nothing is missing. What you’re really looking for are cracks and weak spots. If a belt or hose breaks while you’re driving, you’re in for some serious repairs.
While the engine is cool, squeeze the hoses gently, feeling for any mushy places and paying special attention near clamps. A healthy hose feels solid. Look for cracks, worn spots and, when the engine’s warm, bulges. A hose that’s soft or damaged anywhere needs replacement. In fact, some experts recommend replacing all hoses at least every four years simply because the chemicals inside and the engine heat outside weaken them with time.
With the engine off, look for cracks and wear on the tops of belts, and slickness or glazing on the sides. Belts should be changed when they show wear or every four years at the latest.
• Check the oil once a week. Sure, there’s oil in there somewhere. Your car couldn’t go without it. So what’s to check? Too little oil, or too dirty, causes undue wear on your car’s engine.
Park on level ground where there’s enough light to see under the hood. Grab a rag or paper towel, open the hood, and find the dipstick. Some dipsticks have brightly colored handles, others say “oil” on them, and your car’s owner’s manual will show where it’s located. Pull the dipstick straight out. Wipe the oily end on the rag, and reinsert the dipstick all the way into its hole. Pull it out again.
Holding the dipstick level, look for two lines or holes on it. If the oil ends between the marks, the level is right, but if it ends below the mark closes to the tip, you need to add oil. Look at the color, too. Clean oil is golden and clear; dirty oil is black or brown and should be changed by a garage or lube shop. Replace the dipstick.
To top off the oil, use the same grade and thickness of oil as the engine already contains. Pour the oil into the car through the oil filler cap, which you can locate by using the owner’s manual; usually it’s a round twist-off cap on top of the engine. Start with a half quart; then check the dipstick. Pour a little more until the oil level on the dipstick winds up between the two marks. Wipe any spilled oil off the engine, being careful not to get any dust into the oil-filler hole. Replace the cap.
• Change the air filter regularly. This filter removes contaminants from air going into the engine for combustion. You can’t clean it once it gets dirty – it must be replaced.
Manufacturers suggest how often to change the filter, depending on the car, but a clogged filter can be replaced anytime (with the same size filter, of course – check the owner’s manual for details). To do this, turn off the engine and let it cool. Open the hood, and find the filter housing; again, the owner’s manual will show where it is. Remove the clips, wing nuts or screws holding the cover on the housing, and lift the cover. Pull out the filter, which sits loose in the housing.
Use a rag or paper towel to wipe dust out of the filter’s compartment. Set the new filter in the clean housing. Fasten the cover in place again.
• Check the windshield wipers. Wiper blades wear out about every six months, no matter how much they’re used. They’re out front, where sun and grime deteriorate them, and in harsh climates they may need to be replaced more frequently. You’ll know it’s time when they leave streaks on the window.
Replacing only the rubber part – the refills – takes longer and often costs nearly as much as replacing the entire wiper blade. Measure each blade (one may be longer than the other) before buying replacements, which are sold individually. You’ll need two.
Lift up the wiper arm. Squeeze the release mechanism to release the blade, and slide the blade out from the hook on the arm. Put on the new blade by reversing the steps.
There – you did it yourself in no time. So what if the manuals explain it in Martian? The money you just saved needs no translation.
