7 DIY Car Maintenance Tips for Every Car Owner

Periodic maintenance service that is done regularly and at the prescribed intervals helps to keep the car in the best of conditions. Previously, we understood what periodic maintenance service for your car constitutes of. So let’s take a look at a few things we should be observant about or few general maintenance things we can do ourselves without even taking the car to the service center. Remember a well-maintained car will not only serve you for a long time but also need less repair work as it ages.

DIY #1 Check Engine Oil Level

Once in a month open your car’s bonnet (hood) and check the oil level. There is a dipstick that tells you the amount of oil that the engine currently has and there is a “min and max” level indicated on this stick. Typically the oil level should be between half to the max level. When you have recently done the oil change this level will be close to or at max level and then as time progresses it will reduce very minutely but as mentioned earlier should be above half at any given time. If it is close to the “min” level you should immediately look around in the engine bay if you see some leakage.

Also, check underneath the car if you see oil drops falling on the ground below the engine or see oil stains on the ground where you park daily at your residence and your place of work. If there are such oil stains or leakage in the engine bay that you can locate, then take your car at the earliest to the service center and get it checked. If you happen to be on the road on a trip and find out the oil level is low please buy the recommended grade of oil from nearby auto spares shop and top up the oil to prevent any catastrophic damage. Note that the best time to check the oil level by using the dipstick is in the morning after you have parked the car overnight or at least 3 to 4 hours after the engine has cooled down.

DIY #2 Check Engine Coolant Level

When you are done checking the oil, the next thing to look at is, whether the coolant container has sufficient coolant in it. This container will have “max” and “min” levels marked on it. The coolant level should be close to the max level but even if it is less than that and somewhere in between the two levels, it’s okay. If it’s close to the “min” level please be mindful and check it every two days and if it goes lower, that means there is a leakage somewhere which needs to be fixed. You can top up in an emergency with water.

Please note that unless you are fully aware of the specification of the coolant that your car needs, do not put just any coolant available at the spare parts store. Usually, the coolants are coloured differently and the car manufacturers select the type of coolant that works for their engines. The widely used coolants are in red, green and blue colour. Please note never to mix different colour coolants and as I mentioned earlier, in case of emergency it is absolutely fine to top up with just water. Please get your car checked at your regular service center in case you find out that the coolant level is reducing and leaking.

DIY #3 Verify Condition of all Tyres

One of the most critical parts of your car which makes sure that your car stays and drives properly on the road are the tyres. It’s important to give a periodic look at all the four tyres and check their condition. The condition of the tyres affects the grip of your car on the road and also majorly impacts the performance of the brakes. Check the air pressure in all the tyres once a month ideally, but at least once in two months for sure. It is very important to maintain the correct tyre pressure as incorrect tyre pressures will not only affect the life of the tyre but also the performance of the car in general. Also necessary to check is the air pressure of the spare tyre as you want it to be in usable condition if you get a flat tyre and need to replace with the spare one on the road.

Check your tyres once in a month for tread wear (tyre surface wear) and any damage on the side wall or anywhere on the tyre. If you see any uneven wear of the tyre tread then it could be because of improper wheel alignment or even incorrect tyre pressures. Please consult your regular service center or a trusted wheel alignment and balancing center in case of such uneven wear. It’s also a good practice to get tyre rotation done and wheel alignment & balancing when your car goes in for periodic maintenance service if the service center doesn’t include it as part of the maintenance.

DIY #4 Test for Noise and Brakes

Once in a while, drive your car with the music system turned off, maybe the air conditioner turned off as well and check for any noises which you feel are not normal. If you find any objectionable sound, check if it repeats and comes under any particular road or driving condition. Take the car to your service center and explain your observation. Next is to check for the brakes. Apply brakes and check if you get a squeaking sound, if yes then it’s an indication that your brakes are worn out and are near the end of their life. It’s time to get the brake service done at your service center.

DIY #5 Put Wipers into Action

Check your wiper blades. If they are worn out or if the rubber on the blades is damaged or if it is falling apart have them replaced with new ones. If you end up using such damaged wiper blades then it might scratch your windshield. Also periodically check the windshield washer solution level. Top it up with soap water so that when you want to clean the windshield and use the washer it isn’t dry.

DIY #6 Check Functionality of all Lights

Make sure that all your headlights and taillights are working fine. Check if the brake lights come on when you apply brakes, it is important for the drivers behind you to be warned that you are applying brakes, especially in an emergency situation. Also, check if the blinkers or hazard lights are working fine. If any of the lights aren’t working be diligent to get the bulbs replaced or any electrical fault rectified at the earliest.

DIY #7 Observe any Malfunction or Warning Signs

Always check your display console or cluster meter if any warning signs or lights are shown on it. These warnings or lights are for informing the driver about some problem and shouldn’t be ignored. It might be an engine coolant temperature light showing the engine is overheating, oil light showing low oil levels or an engine check light. If such warning lights are displayed it is important to get it checked from your service center. Remember that if the warning lights are yellow/amber in colour, then it is okay to drive on but get the problem diagnosed at the earliest. But if any of these lights turn red or blink continuously then you should stop the vehicle at once and contact your service center for further directions on how to handle the problem.

Wrapping Up

So these are some of the things you should be doing to make sure that your car stays in good condition or at least to get early indications of any impending problem. As you know, our car is a machine, which like any other machine needs to be cared for and any problem should ideally be fixed immediately or nipped in the bud to prevent major repair jobs.

Enjoy your drives and safe driving!