Simple Car Maintenance For Everyone

Staying on top of maintenance is the most proven and cost-effective way of keeping your car on the road and running well for as long as you own it. While some automotive maintenance requires a garage and a qualified mechanic, many small tasks can be done from the comfort of your home with little to no prior experience.

Some of the following tasks are preventative checks while others replace small parts from your car as they become worn out. Mastering the following list along with the specific requirements outlined in your car’s owners manual will allow you to keep your car safe and spot a variety of small issues before they become larger and more costly problems.

Read your manual

Yes. The most boring and hands-off way to make sure your car continues working. While not the most exciting recommendation, car maintenance is about knowing what YOUR car needs, not what a friend or some past advice you got says. Your best tool in this fight is your owner’s manual. Dig in and learn more about your car, how it was designed, and what it needs to stay in tiptop condition. Don’t have a manual for your car? A quick google search from your phone can probably solve that.

While car maintenance can be a less-than-exciting mix of complicated and boring, most of what is described in this list can be maintained just by knowing what to look for. From a streaky windshield to bald tires or even an overheated engine, our cars aren’t getting any younger and learning to check just a few things will help to keep your car running like new for many more km.

Check and maintain tire pressure

Despite this being a very easy task that also ensures the safety and performance of your tires, many drivers ignore their tires until there is an issue, a strange noise, or a “belly”. Once a month, and especially before long trips, use a tire pressure gauge to check that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If any of the tires are low and you don’t own a pump, gas stations in St. Lucia usually have a working pump that can be used for FREE. While checking the pressure, be sure to also keep an eye on the tire wear and condition. Look for worn patches, exposed tread wear markers, cracking, and other damage. If the tire appears worn or damaged, have it replaced immediately.

Air filters

All cars use a filter to clean the air being drawn into the engine. The placement and accessibility of the air filter will vary from car to car, but changing it shouldn’t be too difficult and the air filter is generally housed in a plastic box in the engine bay. Replacement intervals can vary widely from one car to another, so be sure to consult your owner’s manual to know when you’re due for a new filter. If you’re unsure of when your filter was last replaced, inspect the current filter. If it’s brittle, cracked, or entirely clogged with dirt and debris, pick up a replacement at your car dealership, or favourite auto parts store.

Additionally, most cars have a cabin air filter, which helps to clean the air being drawn into the cabin by the climate control system. Like an engine air filter, the cabin filter will become dirty and ineffective over time. Check your owner’s manual or Youtube to determine the location of the cabin filter in your car and then take a look to see if a new one will freshen up your driving experience.

Windshield wipers

So you’ve filled up the washer fluid but your windshield is still a streaky mess? It’s probably time for new wipers blades. Wiper blades are generally easy to replace and are sized specifically for your vehicle. Depending on the vehicle and its design, many cars use two wiper blades of different sizes. Any auto parts store will have a booklet that will define the blade sizes for your car. The great thing is once the size is determined the first time, just keep using those. Walk with your old blades when purchasing new ones or use a measuring tape.

Fluids

Your car uses several fluids to help in the function of its many systems. While filling or replacing some of the fluids may be best left to a qualified mechanic, keeping an eye on the fluids can give you an early warning of developing problems or failing safety in your vehicle.

Engine oil: This is checked with a dipstick on the engine itself. Open the hood with the engine cold and the car on a level surface, remove the dipstick (generally labelled “engine oil”), wipe it off, put it back, and then pull it back out. The oil level will be indicated on a gauge at the end of the stick. If the oil level is low you can add some oil to the engine (if you’re comfortable with that process) or you can speak with your mechanic and they can diagnose the oil issue. Never over-fill your engine or drive without oil, as either scenario can cause considerable damage to your engine including but not limited to catastrophic engine failure, colloquially known as, “Breaking Knock”

Coolant: Coolant helps your car’s radiator keep the engine at the correct operating temperature and if you’re low on coolant, your car’s engine will likely overheat. For most cars, the coolant is stored in a translucent container mounted near the radiator under the hood. There should be levels indicated on the side of the container and if your car is running low, fresh coolant can be poured directly into this reservoir and is relatively cheap.

Brake fluid: Like coolant, the brake fluid level is indicated on a reservoir in your car’s engine bay. To find your brake fluid reservoir, look for a label on the container or consult your owner’s manual. If the level appears low, filling it is likely only a stopgap until you can have the brake system checked by a qualified mechanic, as you may have a leak or other problem with the pressure in your brakes. If your car appears to be losing brake fluid, consult a qualified mechanical immediately.