Basic Car Maintenance

As one of if not the most important items we own, our vehicles are an integral part of our lives. Many times marking important moments in our history. From bringing home our first child from the hospital to driving to the beach as a family. Allowing us to work to support ourselves or our families. But maintaining such a complicated machine can be expensive and complex to say the least. That being said it doesn't have to be. With this article I will attempt to simplify the basic preventive maintenance of your car.

We all know the importance of having a well maintained vehicle. Simple maintenance will allow your car to last many years. Whether it is a shiny new model with 5 miles straight from the lot or an old beater with 180,000 miles you picked up from some guy on craigslist. Doing the simple things, that typically get at best forgotten or even worse ignored altogether, can save many preventable repairs and headaches. What are these simple items?

Simple right? Well for some maybe not. Depending upon what you drive there could be many variations to your car's fluid needs. For example if you drive a manual. You may not need to check your transmission fluid levels as often as an automatic trans owner. Your specific car may have a sealed transmission with so called life long fluid inside. there is no way to check said fluid. Some newer cars have electronic steering. Removing the power steering pump thus removing the power steering fluid necessary to run such a system. So as you can see it is very important to first get acquainted with your specific vehicle.

1) Engine Oil

Engine oil is number one on this list because not only is it vital to your engines health and efficiency it is also one that is commonly ignored. you should check your oil regularly not only for its level but for its condition. Most people will change there oil and assume it will be good until the sticker says it needs another change. However there are many variables to an oils lifespan not just miles driven, or time since your last oil change. Variables such as how the the car is driven. Let's say you have a truck you use to do heavy towing. That engine is working harder than say simply driving to and from the grocery store. Or maybe you live in an area where dust is a constant issue. If you have a clogged air filter, yes air filter not oil filter, this to can degrade your motor oil drasticly reducing its lifespan. so as you can see its important to check your oil regularly.

When checking your oil first and foremost you are looking at your oils level. Once you are certain it is at a safe level you will want to move on to its condition. As the example shows if it is black in color it will need to be changed. Another obvious indicator your oil has reached its limit is its smell. If your oil has a burnt smell this also tells you it's time for a change. If you determine the oil has reached its limit. Schedule an oil change as soon as possible to prevent engine damage. If you are a more mechanically inclined individual, you can change the oil yourself. This will not only save you a bit of your hard earned money, but can also earn you a strong sense of pride for a job well done.

2) Antifreeze

Besides your engine oil antifreeze is vital for your engines overall health. As the name implies this fluid keeps your engine from freezing during the cold weather of winter. However that is not the only role this versatile fluid plays. Aside from its obvious antifreeze qualities its main role is to help maintain the engines optimal running temperature. It is also used in conjunction with the heater core (a small heat exchanger in your HVAC unit) to heat your passenger compartment, and defrost your windshield to allow clear vision while driving.

The purpose of checking your antifreeze is the same as oil. It is to check its level and its condition. Like oil you can tell alot from both its visual appearance and its smell.

When checking your antifreeze ALWAYS make sure the engine is cool. If not you risk serious injury due to burns. I know i have repeated this fact numerous times however it is truly important that this fact is known. That being said, once your sure the engine is cool. Open your radiator or reservoir, if your car has no radiator cap, and check to see if your radiator is full. If more is required check your owners manual to find what type of antifreeze your specific vehicle calls for. As stated before you can also see your coolants condition by using all your senses. If your coolant is dark in color or has a murky or milky look it may be time for a coolant flush which can be done at most any car shop. Also if the fluid has a smell or is full of debris it is also time for you to schedule a flush. Keeping your antifreeze full and cleen will help prevent damage to your engine and coolant system from overheating and contamination. As with oil if you feel ambitious you can do this flush yourself. This process is a bit more complicated than an oil change but is something a weekend warrior can manage with a bit of research and dedication.

whether you live in a hot climate or an area the goes through a cold winter. It is also important to make sure your coolant is mixed properly for the conditions that exist. this is a simple process with the right tools. These tools are called antifreeze hydrometers. They will inform you of the freezing point of your coolants mixture. Along with its boiling point. To use this tool you simply place the hose into the coolant in your radiator and like a turkey baster squeeze the balb and suck up some of the coolant into the tool. simply look at the gage and see the condition of the mix.

3) Transmission Fluid (ATF)

Transmission fluid also known as ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) in many cases, is vehicle specific. if the wrong type of ATF is used you could easily cause irreversible damage and an immediate need for a rebuild or replacement of your transmission as a whole. So as you can tell the recurring theme here is to refer to your owners manual. However in most cases the proper type of fluid will be marked clearly on the dip stick as well.

Unlike coolant when it comes time to check the ATF level you will need to do so with the transmission at operating temp. The best time to check your trans is after a short ride. One that is long enough to reach temp. Typically a couple miles will suffice. Once your ready to do your check you want to park your car on a level surface with your engine running. Locate the transmission dipstick. This will be towards the rear of the engine in a rear wheel drive and most 4x4's, and on the transmission side in FWD (front wheel drive) vehicles. Pull out the dipstick wipe clean and read the info on the stick. This will inform you on whether the trans needs to be in park or in neutral. If it is required to be in neutral make sure the vehicles wheels are chocked (blocked) or if operational the parking brake is set. Once the car is safely parked The process to check the fluid is the same as engine oil. If more is needed grab a funnel and add fluid through the dipstick tube a small amount at a time till a safe level is reached.

As with all other fluids it should not be dark in color or milky in any way. If it is dark and or has a burnt smell it points to warn or bad fluid. Milky ATF is an indication of water in the fluid. If there is any water in the fluid once so ever, the transmission should be flushed immediately to prevent damage. Another indication of an issue would also be any metal shavings in the fluid itself. If there is shavings the transmission should be checked by a technician.

4) Brake Fluid

We have discussed the main fluids to keep your engine and transmission happy and healthy. Now we need to discuss safety. It's great to be able to keep moving down the road. But it's just as important to be able to stop. Out of all the fluids we have covered this one is by far the easiest to check.

In most cases all you will need to do is look at the reservoir located on the top of the master cylinder on the driver side firewall. If more brake fluid is needed the type needed will typically be indicated on the reservoir cap. If not refer back to your owners manual. however for most vehicles unless its a heavy duty version, will use DOT 3 fluid.

This fluid also has one more unique quality in most cases it will last many years longer than the others. you may never have to change this fluid but if you feel the need to you will want to do so on average once every 5 or so years. This will help to prevent the interior of your brake lines from corroding do to the moisture absorbed into the brake fluid itself.