How To Manage Car Maintenance Yourself

Cars are essential in modern life. We use them to get to work, to the gym, to meet friends. We need them to be able to get out of the city at weekends. But, for many of us, our car is more than just a means of transportation. If you would like to show your car some love, you may be spending a fortune every year taking it in to get serviced, having every little part checked by a mechanic. But did you know that you can do the majority of day-to-day maintenance tasks at home, including a synthetic oil change, yourself, with a few simple tools and bit of guidance? In this article, Synthetic Oil Direct has put together a great guide to everyday maintenance that you can do yourself at home.

Battery

How often does your battery get any real attention? We tend to wait until they stop working, and we’re stuck double-parked to give our car batteries any thought. All batteries have a limited life-expectancy, but there are certain steps that you can take to ensure that you get the most out of each one. Keeping your garage insulated and not allowing your car to cool down to very low temperatures is a good way to prolong your battery’s life. Alternatively, you can try insulating the battery itself. You should also regularly check and clean your battery – remove the clamps and clean dirt and oil. A build up of dirt weakens the charge. Undertaking a synthetic engine change can reduce the frequency with which you need to replace your oil. If you are having to change or top up your engine oil at regular intervals, you could benefit from changing to a superior synthetic oil. Call your local AMSOIL Dealer – Synthetic Oil Direct at (215) 834-8720 to find the right oil for your next synthetic oil change.

Air Filter

The air filter plays a critical role in the correct functioning of your vehicle. It collects dirt and dust particles and stops them getting into your engine and other important components. If the air filter is full of dirt, it can’t effectively protect these components from build-up, and they will begin to get damaged. Also, the extra load placed on the engine by air not being able to pass freely through the air filter decreases fuel efficiency. You don’t need to take your car in for a service just to check and change the air filter. Have a look in your car’s user manual to locate it, and find out how to access it. Remove the casing and you should find the air filter. Some air filters contain folder paper membranes; you can purchase replacements for just a couple of dollars at your local hardware store. If you air filter is not disposable, remove it, clean it thoroughly and replace it in its casing. This quick trick will improve your car’s performance and keep its components in great condition for as long as possible.

Fluids

All vehicle owners should be able to check and refill or change fluids themselves. First things first, you should make sure that you are parked on a flat, level surface otherwise you may not be able to read fluid levels correctly. Some fluid levels can be checked using dipsticks. For example, to check your transmission fluid, turn the engine on and wait for it to warm up, pull out the dipstick, wipe it off, then replace it and remove it again to read the fluid level. Top up the fluid if necessary. Transmission fluid should be red in color. If yours is brown or looks like it has degraded, it’s time to replace the fluid. Other fluids, such as brake fluids, can be checked by looking at the fluid level in the reservoir. Your car should not be consuming brake fluid. If yours seems to be disappearing rapidly, it’s time to take your car in for a service and get help from the experts.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in Montgomeryville

You don’t need to go to a mechanic to check your engine oil – you can do it quickly and easily yourself. Firstly, make sure that the engine is cool. Find the dipstick using your owner’s manual. If your motor oil level is low, you must add more in order to sufficiently lubricate your engine. To get the best products for your engine, call your local AMSOIL Dealer – Synthetic Oil Direct, today at (215) 834-8720, to find out more about how a simple synthetic oil change can protect your engine and reduce the need for constant top-ups.