Quick car DIY’s

Posted on 2015-11-06

A car costs you money from the day you decide to buy one. Petrol, insurance, toll fees, maintenance and a wash once in a while – it all adds up. Not to mention the fact that it starts decreasing in value the very moment you drive it away from where you purchased it. That being said, with a little love and care they’ll be able to drive you around for many years.

So, is there any way in which you can cut the costs of maintaining your car?

Yes! Firstly, compare car insurance quotes, but not just from different car insurance companies, also look at the different products available. Analyse your needs and budget, then compare insurance products accordingly. Secondly, there are a couple of maintenance necessities you can do yourself, but you should still take your car for a service annually.

We’ve put together a “how-to” guide on a couple of general car DIY’s. It’s important to note that all cars are different, which means that the steps may vary, so refer to your car’s manual.

Windscreen Wipers

You never know when you’ll get caught in a storm so you should always be prepared. A good rule of thumb is to change your windscreen wipers every 6 to 12 months. You can buy them at your local hardware store or you can even try the bigger supermarkets. The package should have basic instructions, or you can ask a store employee for help. You can also visit YouTube, if you’re a little unsure.

Steps:

Lift the blades and remove the old wipers – take note of how they connect to the metal arms.
On most models there’ll be a tab on the underside of the wiper; push the tab to remove the old blade.
Attach the new blades. Be careful not to scratch your windscreen or bend the wiper.

Oil and Oil Filter

It is advisable to change your oil every 5 000 to 8 000 kilometres. Before you start, remember to never change the oil while the car is hot.

Steps:

Jack the car up.
Locate the car’s oil pan (look in your car’s manual, if you are unsure).
Drain the oil by unscrewing the drain plug and draining it into your oil pan.
Once everything is drained, replace the drain plug.
Return to your engine to remove the old oil filter with your oil filter wrench; there you’ll find old oil as well.
Lubricate the rubber gasket on the new oil filter with some new motor oil.
Fill the new oil filter about two-thirds of the way with new oil.
Screw in the new oil filter; hand-tighten it only.
Fill the engine with new oil, using your funnel.
With a dip-stick, double check your oil level to be sure you’ve added enough.
Discard the old oil filter and recycle the old oil (most car service centres will take it).

If you’re still unsure, try YouTube.

Flat Tyre

Always ensure that the tools in your car, as well as your spare tyre are in a good condition. When changing a tyre next to the road – make sure you’re safe. Sometimes it’s better to slowly drive to the nearest petrol station with a flat tyre rather than to chance it on the side of the road.

Steps:

No one should be in the car.
Remove the bolt covers.
Only loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench. If the nuts are too tight apply pressure to the wrench with your foot.
Only now should you jack up the car – check your manual to see where to place the jack.
Completely remove the nuts and the wheel.
Put the spare wheel on – remember this is a temporary wheel, you shouldn’t drive faster than 80 km/h.
Replace the wheel nuts.
Lower the car and tighten them properly.

If you still are a little unsure on how to change a tyre, search for videos.

All steps other than changing a tyre were taken from moneycrashers.com.

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.