Are you sick and tired of the old stereotype that girls know nothing about cars and that they never will? This belief is old and boring, but incredibly widespread, which is probably why ladies are a bit reluctant to learn about cars in the first place.
Still, knowing a thing or two about your vehicle is incredibly helpful and it can help you save a lot of money and time in the future. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of incredibly useful car maintenance tips that will help you keep your car in great condition.
DIY oil check
Sometimes you can have an oil leak and you won’t even notice it, so before you blink, you’ll end up with engine problems and have to spend a lot of money on repairs. Learning how to check your oil is easy, and you can even add some if need be.
Locate and pull out the oil dipstick, use a clean rag to wipe it off, and place it back in. When you pull it out the second time, you’ll be able to see exactly how far the oil film reaches and whether or not you should add some.
Also, it’s wise to keep a full oil can in your trunk so that you can always add some – running out of oil in the middle of nowhere in Australia can be a really big problem, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Take care of your windshield
Regularly cleaning your windshield is a must, but it’s also important to change worn wiper blades at least once a year (preferably two times). Sadly, as amazing as Australian roads are, it can also happen that a stray pebble from the car ahead of you accidentally breaks your windshield.
If you ever notice a scratch or a crack, find a company that specializes in windscreen replacement in Sydney and make sure the damage is under control. Your windshield is supposed to protect you, and that’s not possible if it’s damaged, so make sure it’s in perfect condition.
A thing or two about tires
A flat tire is always an inconvenience, but if you learn how to change it yourself, it will save you a lot of time and money, especially if you find yourself stuck outside a big Aussie city. If you have the time, you can always ask a tire professional to show you exactly how they do it, or you can simply watch a couple of tutorial videos to help you out.
You can even practice at home – without the nervousness and the pressure, you’ll get the grip of the process much faster. Also, you should always check the air pressure in the tires, including your spare, as you don’t want them to be too flat, but also too inflated. Make it a habit to check the pressure regularly and get your tires pumped when needed.
Learn to jumpstart your car
If your interior lights are dim and the car won’t start, the battery is the culprit, but you can jumpstart it from a car that has a fully charged battery. Your car and the other one should face each other (or at least be near) and turn off.
The positive terminal of your dead car connects to the red wire, and the same should be done in the other car. After that, the black clamp should be connected to the negative terminal on the good battery and attached it to a bolt near the dead car’s battery. Start the good car first, the dead car next, and let them both run for a while.
Once you buy a car, it’s not a good idea to use it and never take care of it. It’s a big investment and a complex machine, which means that you’re going to be spending money on more than just gas if you’re hoping to have it run smoothly for a long time.
A well-maintained car is going to last for years (or even decades) if you take good care of it, which is why it would be wise to learn a thing or two about how to do it properly.
