1. Neglecting your tire pressure.
No, you don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere (or as bad, in the middle of congested city traffic!) with a flat tire. This is reason enough to check your tire pressure regularly.
But doing so will also help ensure that your car keeps its fuel economy in check; under inflated tires cause your car to guzzle gas rather than sip. Further, proper inflation and rotation helps prevent premature tire wear. We all know that tires are pricy: keeping them in good shape is a big money-saver.
How do you check your tire pressure? It’s easy.
- Check on the inside of your driver’s side door: you’ll see the optimal psi on a sticker (it will also be in your owner’s manual). Do not use the psi on the tire wall.
- Check your pressure when the tires are cold; that is, wait until it’s been at least a few hours since you’ve driven.
- Insert a tire gauge into the tire valve stem. If you’re using a pencil style gauge, it’ll pop out and show a reading. A digital one will give you a readout, much like a thermometer.
- Compare the psi reading to the psi on your sticker.
- If your pressure is too high, let out some air. To do this, place the tip of a flathead screwdriver on the pin in the valve. You’ll hear a hiss. Check the pressure again.
- If the pressure is too low, add air until it reaches the optimal psi.
2. Not staying on top of your fluids.
Oil is the big one here. Skipping routine oil changes puts your engine at risk. Oil has two critical functions: as it circulates, it lubricates the thousands of components that need to work together to ensure your car functions as it should. It also transfers heat away from the engine, preventing dangerous conditions.
Over time, the oil picks up debris and dirt. This is good: we don’t want that grit and grime in the engine! But the fluid can become so dirty that it can’t do its job. Changing it is essential. If you skip that step, you can cause overheating, engine wear, and other costly issues. In extreme cases, you may need to replace your entire engine - or find your car a new home in the scrap lot.
Now, how often do you need to change the oil? We’ve all had it drilled into our heads that it must be every 3000 miles. Well, if your car is newer, you can go a bit longer. Ask your mechanic for an optimal range, but never go longer than 6000-8000 miles.
Don’t forget about your other fluids: transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant, etc., are all important in the performance and safety of your vehicle. Top them off as needed and ask your mechanic about how often you should flush/change them.
3. Not braking for brakes.
It doesn’t matter how fast your car can accelerate from zero to 60; it matters how fast it can stop. Good, functional brakes are a must. When you get your tires rotated (about every six months), check your brakes. Look at the thickness of the pads and the condition of the drum hardware and calipers.
You don’t want your brake pads to wear to the point that they start to work away on the rotors. You’ll hear that distinctive squeaking, squealing, grinding noise. At this point, you’ve set yourself up for a more costly repair - and potentially dangerous driving conditions.
Often, a mechanic will evaluate this for free; again, when you go in for a tire rotation, ask them to check the brake pads and see what’s going on with this critical system.
These are a few of the common self-maintenance mistakes that can impact your vehicle’s performance and your safety (as well as others). DIY car work is great, and everyone should know the basics. But when you need help, don’t hesitate to contact a pro. Precautionary measures and routine maintenance can save you lot of money - and headaches - down the road.