car tips for the uninitiated
if you have a car in your possession and youre its primary operator and caretaker, here are some things you should know:
DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. PEOPLE LOVE YOU. ASSUME EVERYONE ON THE ROAD IS OUT TO KILL YOU. PAY ATTENTION. DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. we can all tell when youre doing it and its super annoying.
check the oil. check the oil check the oil check the oil. your engine has a dipstick that you pull out to check. park your car on level ground and shut it off. pull the tab of the dipstick out, wipe it off with a rag, stick it back in and pull it out again. the level should be above the first dot/line. have an oil change (drain the old oil, replace the filter, refill with new oil) either every 3 months or every 4-6k miles, whichever comes first.
the oil type your car takes should be listed either on its oil refill cap or on a sticker under the hood. if its not listed, ask your mechanic or the auto parts store cashier. be careful when looking it up online because AI answers WILL mislead you. do not mix oil types in your engine. try to maintain the same class of oil (i use high mileage synthetic blend 5w-30, for example. this means i will always use synthetic blend oil.)
do not overfill or underfill your oil. add a little bit at a time, like half a quart, and then check the dipstick again. do not put any fluids in any areas that are not specified by their caps. never put water in your fuel tank.
pay attention to the dashboard lights. do not ignore a check engine light. you can have these codes read for Free at an auto parts store, just ask the cashier nicely if they can check it out for you. they will plug a code reader into your dashboard and tell you what it says. this might clear the code, so make note of it and have it addressed with a trusted mechanic.
try not to let your fuel level get completely empty. this risks letting air gaps into the system or sucking up sediment that might be in the bottom of your tank. you cannot always trust the fuel gauge on your dashboard, especially in an older car. try to pay attention to how much mileage you can get out of a single tank before it gets to below a quarter full.
the size of your car's gas tank does not mean how much gas you will have to get every time. for example, my 99 Corolla had an 11 gallon tank, but i never filled up more than about 9 gallons at a time before the needle was edging close to E.
check your car's battery on occasion. make sure the connections are clean and free of leaky battery acid or dirt. disconnect the battery before working with ANY of your car's wiring, like when installing a new radio or speakers.
check to make sure your tires are uniform and treaded. the treads should rise at least 3 mm above the tire (you should be able to put a penny between them and block abe lincolns chin). do not use winter tires all year round. do not continue driving on any tire that is bulging, bald, leaking, or flat.
pay attention to the sounds your car makes. drive without music on, drive with the windows down occasionally to listen closely. does it whine when you press the gas? (power steering lines) does the back end squeak or thunk when you go over speed bumps? (struts, control arms, shocks) does something make a high pitched squeal when you start the car, or when you turn out of a parking space? (belts) do you hear a whirring sound when you get around 30 mph, almost like a plane taking off? (wheel bearing and holy shit if you hear that sound drive Slowly to a mechanic IMMEDIATELY if your wheel bearing is worn that means your wheel is About to fall off)
pay attention to the feelings of driving. is the brake pedal really squishy, or really responsive? does your speed plateau when you press the gas all the way down? does the car jump or rock when it shifts? do you have to turn the wheel a lot, or a little, around residential turns? the more familiar you are with the feeling of an average day the more youll notice when something becomes Different
Avoid "Quick Lube" places, like the gas station, Jiffy Lube, Firestone, etc. theyre generally fine in a pinch but if you want to keep your car for a long time, try to find a local mechanic you really trust. they will often have access to higher quality parts and more observant employees.
be aware of mechanic scams. an oil change shouldnt cost more than 90-100$, depending on the size of the engine. there is no such thing as headlight fluid. you shouldnt need a new air filter more than once every few years unless you live somewhere really sandy. look up reviews for the business online and see if anyone complains about being charged extra for unnecessary repairs. keep your own log of repairs done on your car so you can backtrack and see what you have already had done, or if the last guy screwed something up.
tire pressure will change with the weather. when it gets really hot outside, the air in your tires will expand, so its okay to let some air out as long as you stay within the recommended pressure for your car. you can find these numbers in the user manual or on stickers on the hood/door. you can refill your tires for a couple dollars at a gas station air pump. keep an air pressure gauge in your car. its the little silver pen-looking thing with the diagonal gasket on the end. try not to lose the caps to the valves on the wheels.
have your tires rotated occasionally. the recommended schedule comes with the tires, but every 6-10k miles is average. you can have it done at the same time as an oil change or every 6 months. your mechanic or tire technician should know the appropriate rotation pattern based on the orientation of your car; front wheel drive and all wheel drive have different rotation patterns. this is to make sure your tires wear down at the same rates and to prevent blowouts.
keep a safety kit in a tub in the trunk of your car. this can include things like emergency flares, reflective triangles, blankets, flashlight + batteries, shelf-stable snacks, water, plastic tubing, matches/lighter, a funnel, a glass breaker, tire leak stopper/plug sealer, spare headlight bulbs, screwdrivers (philips and flatheads), and a ratcheting socket wrench (include sockets sized for things in the engine, like your battery connection points). you never know when you will need these things. make sure the spare tire is where it needs to be, its inflated properly, the wheel will fit the car, and you have a provided jack and tire iron. always loosen/tighten bolts on opposite ends of each other, never clockwise/counterclockwise.
DO NOT store a full gas can in your trunk or anywhere else in the car. for short periods, like a road trip, its not a terrible idea. but make sure to remove it before it overheats back there and bursts or leaks. the same goes for water bottles in the car- replace the water bottle in your emergency kit every year or so.
you CAN change a tire. i believe in you! before driving any long distances, practice changing a tire from the main to the spare and back. try not to drive with the spare for any longer than it takes to get your car to a tire shop.
obviously these are subject to change based on what kind of car you have and how old it is. the bigger your car is, the more dangerous it is to you and everyone around you, so be extra careful. cars are sensitive, precision machines that require many fluids and all the attention in the world for the sake of their longevity and for your safety.
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