Whether you have just gotten your license, or you have been driving for 50 years, there are certain things that you should know how to do when it comes to a car. Some things will help your car to last longer, while others are important to know in case you find yourself stuck in a situation and there isn’t anyone around that can help at the time.
Check the Oil
It is important that you know how to check the oil. For many people, they get their oil changed when it is time, but other than that, they do not think about the oil. While this is usually ok, it is important to know how to check the oil and how to add more oil. The oil keeps the engine parts lubricated. When there isn’t enough oil in the engine, parts can become damaged. By the time you hear the tell-tale signs that you are low on oil, like a tapping sound coming from the engine, damage could have already been done, and you could have a much more serious problem.
Checking the oil is simple. When the car is off, find the oil dipstick. If you do not know where this is, ask someone to show you. If you do not have someone around who can show you, check your owner’s manual. If these are not an option, check YouTube. YouTube is a life saver when it comes to finding information. Search how to check the oil and add the year and model of your car. Pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a rag or paper towel. Put the dipstick back in and pull it out again. The oil should be to the full line. If it is not, you need to add more oil. If the oil is very dark and thick, you need to have an oil change. If there appears to have metal flakes in the oil, you will want to talk to your mechanic.
How to Check the Tire Pressure
Having correct tire pressure is more than just getting the best gas mileage you can. Having the correct tire pressure in your tires is also a safety issue. When tires are not at the correct pressure, the tires cannot grip the road properly. If tires are over inflated, it can cause a blowout.
While newer cars have a warning light on the dash that tells when the tires are low, these lights do not come on until the tires are extremely low. By this point, the tires are too low. Many gas stations have an air pump available. You can use these pumps to check the air pressure in your tires and fill the tires to the proper pressure.
To know the tire pressure, you can look at what the tire pressure for the car should be. Looking on the door jam of the driver’s side will usually have the tire pressure information. While this information is close to the correct pressure, it can vary depending on the tires on the vehicle. If possible, it is better to look on the tire itself for the psi number. The psi is what the tire pressure should be set to.
Once you know the tire pressure, you are able to check the tires. The air pumps usually have a psi gauge. Use this gauge to see where the pressure is. Once you know what the pressure is, you know how much to fill.
How to Check the Wipers
The window wipers are one of those things that no one thinks about until it is raining. This is usually when someone realizes that the wipers are starting to go. The wipers start to show wear and tear before they need to be replaced. If someone takes the time to check them weekly or monthly, it is easier to know when they should be replaced.
The worse time to know that the wipers need to be replaced is when you are driving in the rain. When the weather is nice, be sure to check for dirt and debris that might be on the wipers. Use a rag to wipe the wipers down to remove anything that might be causing the wipers to not work well. Check the wipers for signs of dry rot. Look for cracks, chips, and nicks in the wipers. If you see signs of dry rot or nicks, it is time to replace the wipers.
While there are many things that drivers should know how to do, these are just a few things that anyone who drives should know how to do. If you have put off doing the weekly or monthly checks on your vehicle, and find that you have to have expensive repairs done, It will probably be best to just replace the car.You can turn to Mr. Ed if you have poor credit and need to get a loan for a new or used car. For over 25 years, Mr. Ed’s Loan Experts have specialized in acquiring auto financing for people with bad credit. They understand that credit problems can happen to anyone and they will be there to help get your credit back on track. Their auto loan approvals are good at all 20 Earnhardt locations throughout Arizona. They have thousands of vehicles to select from giving you an amazing variety of new and used cars, trucks and SUVs. Whether you’ve had bad credit, poor credit, fair credit or no credit at all, Mr. Ed can help. Even bankruptcy is no problem for Mr. Ed! Their experts are ready and waiting to help you find the perfect vehicle to replace your old one.
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