Novice Guide to General Car Maintenance

When my sister and I received our first cars, the only thing that was required of us was to maintain them on a regular basis. My father was a mechanic, therefore, it was fitting that his girls knew a little something about cars. So, every weekend we would get oily rags in hand, pop the trunk and hood and do our best impersonations of a mechanic's apprentices.

Check the oil and top it off

Make sure the car is on level ground. Checking the oil on an incline will give a false reading. Simply remove the dipstick, wipe it off, put it back in, pull it out again and check the level. If it is low, top it off with fresh oil. Make sure you have the right weight for your car. Older cars usually take a 40 weight or higher, while newer cars can go with 30. I usually keep at least one or two bottles in my trunk at all times.

Check the radiator

Check the water level and whether or not there is enough anti-freeze in there. Anti-freeze isn't just for the winter. It keeps the motor from overheating too. I keep a container of anti-freeze and a liter bottle of fresh water in the truck.

Check the transmission fluid

Same as checking the oil, but, the car should be running. Let the motor heat up a bit before checking.

Check the water level in the battery

Take all the top caps off the battery. The water should be right at the top of each cell. If it's not, then, pour clean water in each cell that requires water. If there is corrosion around the cables, you will want to scrape it off with a screw driver, then, wash them off with water. Be careful, don't get zapped.

Check the power steering fluid

It's pretty easy to locate and see if it needs fluid. Just top it off if needed.

Check the brake fluid

The reservoir is to the rear of the engine. The newer cars are clear and the fluid level is easily read. Older cars, you will have to take the top off. If the level is low, just add fresh fluid. There are rubber rings in the cap, press those flat or you will make the fluid overflow. Snap the cap back on.

Being a single female, over the years I learned much more about automobiles than I ever wanted to know. But, it was a necessary evil which helped my cars last a little longer and saved me money on trips to a mechanic, when I could just do it myself. I also remember those times of hanging out with my father with much fondness. From being a little girl playing in his tool box to a young adult actually learning how to use those tools, it was magical.