Adulting Archives 004: Car Maintenance, What you Need to Know
Car maintenance -- Yeah, your car runs on oil and it’s pretty important to change it.
You know that four-wheeled thing that gets you to and from work, the gym, and most importantly, the Starbucks drive-thru? Shockingly enough... sometimes it needs a little more than just gas to work properly.
The easy stuff
Not every little problem with your vehicle needs a professional's help. So there are some things that you can do to keep your car in tip-top condition.
Make sure you always have gas: This may seem like a “duh” moment, but if your car runs out of gas it can actually do some significant engine damage. Plus no one wants to be that person on the side of the road having to walk in the heat/rain/snow back and forth between your car and the gas station. So don’t go playing chicken when that little light comes on, go get gas at the closest station you can find.
Check your oil: The number of times I have heard the phrase “Did you check your oil?” in my life is wild, my dad truly should have it tattooed on himself at this point. But he has a great point. Checking your oil takes all of 3 minutes or less, and is the easiest way to keep your car running FOREVER. And guess what... the only tools you need are a paper towel, and a quart of oil…how easy is that!? Here is a little instruction video to help you out, but keep in mind that every car is different, so make sure you take a look at your manual before you are tinkering under the hood.
Keep your car clean: You never know, your boss may want you to drive to a client meeting, so try to always keep your car clean both inside and outside!
Um...something is not right here, but I can handle it
There are some things that might need to be replaced or fixed, that are actually pretty easy. Things like replacing windshield wipers, refilling windshield wiper fluid, changing a flat tire, and sometimes even replacing your headlights and taillights can be done if you just take a little time. Most of these things you can actually find tutorials for on YouTube, even down to the specific make and model of your vehicle! And when you go to any auto part store, they can look up the exact part that is perfect for your car.
Now the hardest of these things is going to be changing a flat tire. The best way to learn, is to actually do it on your own car. If you have someone who is good at it, let them teach you. And practice it on your own three times. This way if anything ever goes wrong, you know your way around your vehicle enough to do it on your own.
Wait, what does this light mean?
So, the dreaded little check engine light has come on, what do you do? Some cars give you a little code that you can cross-reference in your user manual to see what’s wrong, so that is step one. Step two, often the hardest part, you find someone who can fix it.
Now, if you are lucky to know someone who knows their way around fixing a car, tell them what is going on and maybe they will be able to help you, usually at a MUCH cheaper cost. If you don’t have any car experts in your circle, I am going to tell you what not to do. Do NOT take your car to get serviced at the dealership. Anna and I can tell you that they will definitely pull the wool over your eyes. First things first, if you are not confident about vehicles they will use that against you and find anything and everything that is wrong with your car, even if nothing is really wrong. They also will charge around $150-$200 per hour on labor, plus the huge upcharge on the parts. Don’t believe me? If you are ever there, make sure you grab an itemized receipt and do a little math.
Now the next question is, where do I go if I shouldn’t take it to the dealership. This is where some research will need to be done. Ask everyone, and I am talking EVERYONE, your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends at the gym, you can even check Yelp. Try to go for smaller, usually family-owned repair and service shops, eventually, you will find the right fit. Nervous to try one out? Wait until you need something like a simple oil change and trust your gut, if they are fair on cost, get the job done quickly, and don’t come back to you with a laundry list of things that are “wrong” then you may have found a good fit. Congratulations, you have won the adult lottery! And if you haven’t found that perfect fit yet, don’t stop trying. Having someone who you trust under the hood can make a world of difference.
Sometimes having a car can be both a blessing and a curse. But as long as you take good care of your car, it will be there for you for years and years to come.
