Money Saver Alert: DIY Maintenance Tips Straight from the Car Manual

Cars play a vital role in our lives, and in today’s fast-paced world, they offer a huge relief when it comes to daily commutes, running errands, or even going on weekend gateways. But maintaining a vehicle can be costly, with regular trips to the mechanic denting our wallets.

That said, there are a few DIY maintenance tips straight from car manuals that can help you save money and take the best care of your ride. While this article can only give you a glimpse of the true potential of a car repair manual, the true impact comes from you having a hold of your car owner’s manual and exploring it — only then can you take advantage of hundreds of useful DIY maintenance tips for your specific vehicle.

Hence, here are some car maintenance tips you can expect from your car manual. We’ll cover from the basics, like vehicle cleaning, to the more advanced ones, like spark plug maintenance and brake inspection.

Without further ado, let’s go!

Keeping Your Car Clean

Do you know that keeping your vehicle clean can significantly increase its lifespan? A dirty vehicle harbors abrasive particles that can get into your car’s vents and wreak havoc. Not only that, spilt liquids left unchecked can be acidic and can eat through metal parts.

Aside from washing it regularly, car owner’s manuals usually advise sponging and vacuuming the interior at least twice a week. Ideally, you’d want to use a vacuum cleaner with an appropriate wand head, as bare metal wands can scratch surfaces. Also, make sure to use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe dust from the clear plastic lenses on your dashboard.

In addition, using floor mats also helps to protect the carpeting; rubber waffle style mats and carpet-style make great choices and are easy to clean.

Regular Oil and Fluid Changes

Your car’s manual will emphasize the importance of regular oil changes as part of routine maintenance for car. Oil acts as the lifeblood of your engine, keeping its components lubricated and cool. Fluids such as brake fluid and transmission fluid are instrumental in its functioning and also reduce wear and tear.

Thus, as responsible owners, you should always check essential oil land fluid levels such as engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid. The best and most systematic way to do it is to select a day each month where you will perform checks and note it in your calendar.

Never neglect and prioritize cost saving when it comes to topping up the fluids since it may look like you are saving money, but ultimately, you can end up paying more for repairs.

Air Filter Checks

Your car’s air filter is like its lungs, ensuring that clean air flows into the engine. A dirty or clogged air filter not only restricts the flow of clean air that helps in more efficient combustion, but also sends corrosive particles into the engine. On the contrary, a clean air filter can increase the efficiency of a carburetor car by as much as 14%!

All it takes to replace an air filter is a screwdriver and your trusted car owner’s manual, which typically guides you to locate and perform the replacement in a few simple steps. It’s an inexpensive fix that can improve gas mileage and prevent engine strain. Replacing the air filter is one of the easiest yet incredibly effective DIY tasks most reputed car manuals recommend.

Battery Maintenance

While most manufacturers claim that the battery is maintenance-free, that is certainly not the case. A dirty and uncleaned battery can actually cause the current to drain. Your timely car maintenance and repair schedule should always include cleaning the battery terminals.

Use a brass wire battery brush dipped in a paste made from a few tablespoons of baking soda and water to clean both the black negative cable and the red positive cable. You can also coat the terminals and clamps with a thin coating of grease to prevent corrosion before reinstalling the cable.

It’s important to remember that clean and deposit-free terminals ensure an unrestrained flow of electrons, thereby maximizing the output.

Looking After the Spark Plugs

Your car’s spark plugs play a vital role in the combustion process, affecting engine performance and fuel efficiency. The car owner’s manual will detail when to change them, typically at specific mileage intervals. Most manufacturers recommend a replacement every 30,000 or 40,000 miles to ensure good fuel mileage and engine performance. However, modern-day double platinum plugs come with a life expectancy of 100,000 miles.

Spark plugs cost only a few dollars, and replacing them in time is one of the most cost-effective car DIY tips that can improve your car’s overall performance. Apart from that, you also save on the labor cost by performing the replacement yourself.

Brake Pad Inspection

Safety should always be the number one priority when driving a car. And proper condition brake pads are essential to enforce the same. But over time, the brake pads start to wear away, leading to metal-on-metal rubbing that can severely damage the entire braking mechanism, skyrocketing repair costs. Just a simple trick of adding brake pad inspection to your car repair checklist can help save hundreds of dollars in repairs. Simply slide under your car and try to see the contact point of the pad and the rotor on the back side of the brake caliper. If the pad appears too thin or looks burned, replace it immediately.

Always remember that driving with worn-out brake pads is the most unsafe thing you could do with your car, threatening both your and other people’s lives on the road.

Last Words

Your car’s manual isn’t just a guide to your vehicle; it’s a handbook for saving money. With hundreds of useful and effective car DIY maintenance tips, they are one of the most resourceful things you can get to take the best care of your ride.

Embracing these DIY tasks not only helps keep your vehicle well maintained but also retains a thicker wallet. So, the next time you’re faced with a car-related issue, turn to your trusty car manual and remember that the road to savings starts with the knowledge within — and knowledge never goes to waste!