Top 9 essential DIY car maintenances

If you know how to maintain your car yourself then car servicing has not been a problem during this pandemic. The Covid-19 has affected every one of us greatly and our normal routine got fully changed. The vehicles have never been in the garage for such a long time. At a time like this people often think that the car is not being used so it does not require maintenance but that is not true. Your car needs repair and replacement even if it is stationary. 

You cannot book a service and take your car to the car servicing center so you should be aware of some DIY car servicing tricks. That way you wouldn’t have to stress and you can just take care of your vehicle yourself.

Here are the few easiest DIY car maintenances:

• Change the oil
  You can change the oil of your vehicle with ease. The oil can become less effective over time because it breaks down. It does not perform its job of lubricating the parts which is why you need to replace them after a while. The oil can also get dirty and affect the performance of the vehicle.
  
  You can get your oil changed by a car repair and maintenance center. But it is more cost-friendly to do it on your own. You have to put your car up on jacks and find the oil drain plug. get all the old oil out of the tank, replace the plug, and then fill in the new oil. You can take the old oil to the nearest garage and have it recycled.

• Change the engine air filter
  It is one of the easiest things to replace in a vehicle. You just need to unscrew the air filter box retainers so you can remove the old filter. Use light to inspect that how much of it passes through the filter. If the filter 50% of the light, then you need to replace it. If not, you can put the filter back and tighten the screws again.

• Brake fluid flush
  The fluid tends to develop moisture over time within the braking system. It can affect the performance of your brakes and also the other components can get corrosion. It is advised to flush the fluid every two years. Flushing the fluid will bring the performance of the pedals back to normal. Many people ignore the fluid and do not flush the fluid during maintenance, but the car needs to run smoothly.

• Replace the windshield wipers
  It is super easy to change the wiper blades of the windshield. If the blades are not wiping your windscreen clean and they leave a mark, then it means that they require a replacement. You can get new ones from the nearest car parts shop. They will have different quality and prices of the blades. You can choose according to your preference. Follow the instruction that is given on the package and you would easily install them.

• Replace the cabin air filter
  A clogged and used filter can ruin your car’s environment and also affect the performance of the air conditioner. They are usually installed behind the ducts. You can buy new filters from an auto parts shop and also ask the shopkeeper to give you the printed instructions. Take out the old air filter and put in the new ones. Read the instructions carefully and make sure that you are putting them in the right direction. 

• Keep the seats clean
  The leather or vinyl seats can lose their color and charm after a while. You need to clean them first properly and then condition them. Take a rag and some leather cleaner. Spray the cleaner and clean the seats by rubbing them with the cloth. Give them almost an hour to dry and then put the conditioner on them. There are multiple conditioners available of different brands, you can get one of them according to your choice. 

• Tyre rotation
  Tyre rotation is compulsory for the proper alignment of your vehicle. It is advised to get your tyres rotated after every 6000 miles. You can rotate them yourself as well. It is an easy process. You can do it by using a wrench and jack with comes with your car. You can get more information from any car mechanic available and rotate your tyres for even wear. 

• Change the coolant
  The coolant is the liquid responsible to keep your engine from overheating. It needs to be changed or refilled with time. If there is not enough coolant, then your engine will get overheated, thus affecting the performance of your car. It is risky to drive an overheated car. You should regularly check the coolant level and if it is too low then refill it. You can easily get to know if your coolant is leaking. You will see thick liquid under your car and the level of the coolant would drop excessively. If this happens then you might need to change the gaskets. 

• Clean the battery terminals
  Your battery can dry out because of rusty terminals. Corrosion and dust gathered on the terminals can affect the charging process of your batteries. In a situation like this people often think that they need to replace their battery but it is a good thing to clean the terminals of your battery first.
  
  You can easily clean them by using a mixture of water and baking soda. If there is green corrosion and it doesn’t get clean, then it is time to replace the clamps. Another indication of faulty terminals is that they won’t clamp tightly. You can buy new terminals at a low cost and fix them yourself.