Do the basic maintenance of your car yourself (with pictures)

You really don't have to be handy to be able to do the basic maintenance of your car yourself. You can save money and hassle by taking a few simple steps yourself, then you can be sure that your car will continue to work. And then you are no longer standing on the side of the road for the time being. Just perform regular maintenance and regular inspections and your car will be reliable, safe and road-ready. Skip to step 1 for more information.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Doing a basic inspection

Step 1. Check the oil level and top up if necessary

One of the easiest ways to extend the life of your car without paying a lot for expensive service is to check your oil level regularly and top up if necessary. It will take you about two minutes to check the level, and it is made easy by the dipstick that is present on top of your engine.

• Locate the engine oil cap on your engine block. This is usually indicated by a dripping oil can icon. The dipstick is not far from here. Check the level after the engine has been off for a while, or do it in the morning before you drive away. Pull the dipstick out of the block and wipe it clean with paper towels or an old rag.

  

• Look at the oil on the rag. Is the oil very black? Do you see some sediment or does it look grainy? Then it is probably time for new oil. Put the dipstick back in the block and pull it out again to check the level. The marks on the dipstick indicate what level it should be.

  

• If the level is too low, unscrew the engine oil cap from the block and add a small amount of the correct type of engine oil. Check with an auto parts store if you don't know what type of oil to use. Use a funnel to avoid spills and check the level again when you've topped up a little.

  

Step 2. Inspect the tires

There is nothing more annoying than a blowout on the highway in the busy rush hour traffic. Regularly checking and rotating your tires can reduce the risk of a blowout. Check tire pressure, check for wear and replace if necessary.

• You can check the tire pressure at a gas station, but it can also be useful to buy a tire pressure gauge and keep it in the car at all times. Check the tire or sticker in the car for the recommended tire pressure and be careful not to overfill. If you keep your tires properly inflated, it improves road holding and you drive more economically.

  

Step 3. Check the remaining levels

Locate the windshield washer fluid, transmission oil, brake fluid, and coolant reservoirs and check that the levels are correct. Add more if needed. This isn't something you need to do every week, but doing it regularly will help keep the engine running smoothly.

• 's dipstick the gearbox oil is the other dipstick by the engine block. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and reinsert the dipstick. Pull the dipstick out again and read the level. The oil should be clear and red in color. Most cars require an oil change every 160,000 miles.

  

• The brake fluid is in a white plastic reservoir in the engine compartment, usually it says 'brake fluid'. This level should not drop on its own, if it does you probably have a leaking brake line. Then you should immediately take your car to the garage or check the brake lines yourself.

  

• Coolant should be checked when the engine has completely cooled down. Even if the engine only warms up a little, the hot coolant will shoot out of the opening like a geyser when you remove the cap. So be very careful. If you smell a weird, sweet smell in the car when you drive, there may be a leak in the coolant system, the coolant will leak onto the engine block and burn. If the level is low you may have a leak.

  

• Power steering fluid and windshield washer fluid are contained in plastic reservoirs in the engine compartment. The power steering fluid reservoir usually has markings for the recommended cold and hot engine level. So look for the correct marking and top up if necessary. Windshield wiper fluid isn't important to keep the engine running, but if you keep it topped up at all times, your wipers will last longer.

  

Step 4. Check the battery

Check the battery for corrosion and other signs of wear. The terminals of the battery may contain deposits from liquid from the components of the battery, which can cause the terminals to not make proper contact with the cable clamps, for example resulting in a failure to start. If you notice that your car no longer starts properly, you can check the battery terminals for deposits.

• If necessary, clean the battery terminals with baking soda and an old toothbrush. You can also remove the corrosion with a little cola. Remove the bolts at the battery terminals, loosen the clamps and clean everything thoroughly.

  

Step 5. Test your brakes

When it is quiet on the street, you can occasionally check your brakes by pressing the brake pedal firmly when you are driving slowly. Feel how the brakes react. Do you already brake when you press the pedal a little? Is ABS activated at the right time? Do you hear a squeaking sound or the sound of metal on metal? Do all wheels brake evenly? Any deviation can indicate worn brake pads and maintenance is necessary.

Step 6. Check your lights

It's a good idea to check your lights regularly to make sure everything is working properly. Get someone to help you by pressing your brake pedal and turning on the turn signal while you look outside to see if the lights are on.

• You can check the headlights yourself by parking the front of the car near a wall. Turn on the headlights and check that they are properly aligned, they should always shine slightly to the right (as seen from the car) so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic.

  

Part 2 of 3: Doing maintenance yourself

Step 1. Change the engine oil every 5,000 km

To ensure optimum engine operation, the old oil must be drained and new oil of the correct type must be topped up. In addition, the oil filter should be replaced regularly, at least every 20,000 km. But if you are busy with replacing the oil, it is better to replace the oil filter immediately, which will extend the life of your car.

• The difficulty of changing oil is medium. It's not difficult to do yourself, but you should have the necessary space and the right materials (at least fresh oil, a container to collect the old oil, car mounts). It's relatively cheap to have a garage do it, and that's often a wise choice if you live in a city and don't have a suitable place to do maintenance yourself.

  

Step 2. Rotate your tires and replace them if necessary

To ensure that the four tires wear evenly and last longer, it is useful to rotate them regularly, according to the correct pattern. Depending on your tire type, you should either just swap the tires from left to right and vice versa, or back to front and vice versa. You need several car mounts if you want to rotate your tires yourself, but you can also take your car to the garage, put it on the bridge, and have your tires rotated there quickly and cheaply.

Step 3. Replace the windshield wipers, if necessary

Replace the old wipers with new ones if you notice that the rubber is loosening, or if you see cracks, or if you notice that the entire windshield is not being wiped evenly. New windshield wipers often have an invisible sticker, when the wipers need to be replaced, a triangle with an exclamation mark in it becomes visible. In a car parts store there is usually a reference book in which you can look up which type of windshield wipers are suitable for your car. You can also show the old one to an employee.

Step 4. Replace the air filter

The air filter is located in a compartment on top of the engine block, under a large round or rectangular hood made of metal or plastic. Remove the air filter from the housing and clean it well to significantly extend the life of your engine. You can clean it with an air compressor and then wipe it clean.

Step 5. Inspect and replace belts if necessary

The V-belt or multi-ribbed belt drives the alternator, power steering pump, water pump and other electrical components. Sometimes the power steering is driven with a separate belt. The alignment and installation of the belts depends a lot on your engine, but if you hear a high-pitched squeaking noise when you start the car or when you steer, inspect the belts for wear and replace them if necessary. The belt costs only a few euros, and an installation diagram can usually be found on a sticker in the engine compartment.

Step 6. Replace the spark plugs

The spark plugs on a petrol car should also be checked regularly and replaced if required. The spark plugs are an important part of an internal combustion engine so it is important to only use spark plugs that are in good condition. If one of the spark plugs fails, the engine can stall, you can prevent this by replacing them regularly and on time.

Part 3 of 3: Optimizing the life of your car

Step 1. Ride less

The more times you start your car per day, the heavier the engine has. If you want to extend its life as long as possible, only use your car when absolutely necessary, and if you do drive, avoid turning the engine off and on again often.

• Avoid multiple short rides if you can combine them into one long ride. Try to combine different addresses in one trip to make more effective use of your car.
• If you don't drive much for a longer period of time, consider parking your car somewhere and using the bicycle. You can then suspend your car so that you do not pay road tax.

Step 2. Pull up slowly

By accelerating as quickly as possible from a traffic light, the gearbox is unnecessarily loaded and your engine will wear out faster. Drive slower. Even if you're in a hurry, you can accelerate smoothly and evenly until you reach your desired speed. If you are driving an automatic, try to imagine that you are shifting gears at a relaxed pace, then you will accelerate less quickly.

Step 3. Take it easy on your brakes

By downshifting you can brake on the engine, which saves the brakes. If you have an automatic transmission, try not to brake at the last minute. Anticipate when to stop and make sure you don't have to brake until you've slowed down for a while by not accelerating.

Never pull up for red traffic lights. Take your foot off the accelerator in time and prepare yourself for the stop

Step 4. Switch smoothly

Clutch replacement is difficult to do yourself, and very expensive to have. Make sure you don't rev too much and shift carefully. The noise of grinding gears is not a good sign, if it happens often, wear will occur more quickly. Practice smooth shifting, especially in lower gears.

Step 5. Use the best fuel

Only use fuel with the octane rating that suits your type of car. Avoid refueling at gas stations where the gasoline has just been delivered. If you see a gas station being refilled by a truck, go to another gas station. When the new gasoline is poured into the storage tank, sediment and water are released from the bottom, which is mixed with the gasoline. Of course there are filters at the pump and in your car, but these filters cannot filter everything and also wear out the longer they are used. So avoid refueling when the petrol has just been delivered. If you really need to refuel, park your car first, eat a sandwich, have a coffee and only refuel after 15-20 minutes, until the sediment has settled again.

Step 6. Resolve issues right away

If a problem arises, it is important to act immediately. Driving around for weeks with a squeaky multi-ribbed belt is not good for your motorcycle, nor for the mental health of your neighbors.

Tips

• Make sure the valves are properly adjusted. An engine's valves need to be readjusted regularly, unless your car uses a hydraulic version. Replace the valve body gasket if there is oil on the engine block.
• Replace the capacitor and contacts. The capacitor and contacts should be replaced every six months if you have an older car. However, if you have replaced them, always check the ignition timing to ensure optimal engine operation.