There’s more to owning a car than just how much it costs you each month. Take care of your vehicle and it will take care you. What maintenance will your car require? And what can and should you do yourself? You’ll eventually need to replace your car’s shoes and make a choice about the tires. There are ways to extend the life of your current set. You might just need a jumpstart when the battery starts to run out if it’s an old model. How can you safely jump-start your car? What’s the best method to maintain a clean, shiny car? It will make you happy and help you keep your vehicle’s value at its maximum. Here you’ll find answers to all these questions, and many others about owning and maintaining a vehicle. We’ve also included tips to help you become a safer, better driver, regardless of the weather or road conditions.
Maintenance & Repairs
Do not be scared of the word maintenance. It’s not necessary to be an auto technician to perform simple maintenance tasks. You also don’t need a vehicle lift or a toolbox full of expensive tools to keep your car running safely and reliably for many years.
You won’t require tools for simple tasks like checking fluids. You’ll be amazed at how much you can do by simply following the simple instructions in these how-to articles. As you become more adventurous, you can also try some more complex operations that require a few more tools. You can also save money by doing it yourself.
Oil and other Fluids
The engine of your car is dependent on oil. engines last a long time if the oil is changed and maintained at recommended intervals. Other fluids in your car, such as brake fluid, diesel exhaust fluid, and antifreeze need to be checked and replaced periodically. You can learn how to properly maintain the oil level in your car and other fluids.
Tires
Tires are easy to overlook. Tires are not a priority because they last for thousands of miles. Every driver should know how and why tires should be properly inflated and rotated. They should also be aware of how to safely change a tire in the event of a failure.
There are many things to think about when you need new tires. The New Tire Buying Guide explains what the different types offer in terms performance and wear. We have even made some recommendations based on and our own testing.
Batteries and Jump Starts
Most of us know what happens when the battery in a car dies. And many have been there themselves. Not everyone knows how to safely jump start a car when the battery is dead. If your vehicle requires a new battery you will need to know the best way to install it and how to select the right battery.
Driving Tips
It’s difficult to drive a car. It’s no wonder that companies have spent billions on developing self-driving cars, but they haven’t yet perfected them. It takes time and practice to become a better driver. Our extensive experience testing and driving automobiles under all conditions has led us to develop some shortcuts.
We recommend that if you are a new driver, you take more than the usual driver’s education classes. If at all possible, we encourage parents to send their kids to a defensive-driving course where they can get experience with accident avoidance techniques–including how to use anti-lock brakes–in a safe track environment.
Modifications and Accessories
You can customize your car with a variety of accessories if you are someone who uses their vehicle for more than transportation. Or if you need to transport gear for an adventure. You can customize your car to carry your boards and bikes or to provide a sleeping area.
You can customize your car to suit your taste with tinted glass and body wraps. You can make it smell like something other than a car, and you can also fill it with cool electronic gadgets. We’ve found a few ways to personalize your car.
Keep it Clean
Keep it looking good. This is the final step in car ownership. It’s easy and satisfying. Beyond the local automatic car wash, there’s an entire industry devoted to supplying you with cleaning supplies, paint-restoring-and-enhancing polishing compounds, waxes, and protectants–and all of the associated paraphernalia needed to keep your car gleaming brighter than when new.
The same goes for the cleaners and machines you use to clean your car’s interior . We use these products to keep our own rides looking nice. We’ve tested a variety of products, including waterless car washes and car vacuums.
