Preparing Your Car for Summer

The month of June is here, and summer is just around the corner. While the months of winter require a lot of prepping up for your car, the months of summer have their own set of demands. Be sure that your car is summer-ready to avoid unnecessary trips to the auto repair shops. Below is an outline of the things that you must do to prep up your car (and yourself) for the heat:

1. Keep your cooling system in top shape.

The first part that you need to secure during summer is your engine—it can easily overheat under the sun. So, be sure that your entire cooling system is in good health, capable of cooling the engine at all times.

2. Keep all your automotive fluids at the correct level.

This goes especially true for the coolant and oil in your ride. The coolant is crucial for engine heat collection and dissipation while the oil is vital for reducing friction and heat among working metal parts.

3. Keep your AC system in good shape.

While your engine needs to be cool, you need to remain cool as well. And for that, your only hope is the AC system. Be sure that all AC parts are working well and that the lines are okay. These will guarantee proper refrigerant circulation and sufficient cooling inside your vehicle cabin.

4. Try a heat shield.

If you’re parking your vehicle in a public area under the heat of the sun, you may want to get a heat shield to keep your ride from turning into a gigantic oven. This is a cheap addition that will help a lot in keeping your drive comfortable.

So, are you ready for summer? Check your car now while the heat is not yet in full blast.

DIY Saturday: Some Add-ons to Consider to Protect Your Vehicle from Damage

They say prevention is better than cure, and that especially applies when it comes to your vehicle. Aside from regular maintenance, one way to arrest and prevent the occurrence of any problem is by getting parts that will protect your ride from any possible damage. Here, we outline some of the things that you can get to help you save on repair costs.

1. Floor Mats. These are simple mats (plastic or rubber) that you simply place on your floor area to protect that metal panel from dirt, water and mud from your shoes, as well as spills when you drive. The said elements can intensify wear and tear on the floor area, and you may just wake up one day with a rusted and corroded floor. Prevent this with floor mats.

2. Tonneau Covers. These are ideal for trucks, protective truck bed add-ons that will cover the bed and all the cargos that you place inside. The result? You don’t only get a neat look—you also protect the cargos and the truck bed from rainwater, snow, sunrays, and other elements that can cause damage.

3. Car Covers. Your car needs protection even when parked. In fact, it has to be protected even when it’s just inside your garage! And when it comes to stationary protection for your car, nothing beats a good car cover. Choose a breathable cover, an all-weather type if you park your vehicle outside the home, and one that’s custom-made to fit your vehicle well.

These vehicle add-ons are very simple, but they go a long way when it comes to offering protection to your vehicle. While your car is still in good shape and not yet damaged in any way, it’s a good idea to invest on any of these, and more, to keep your ride in tiptop condition for a long time.

DIY Saturday: Weird Automotive Smells and What They Mean

Diagnosis is usually the first step to solving any problem in your vehicle. And if you want to save on auto repair costs by doing a repair the DIY way, then you must learn techniques to doing diagnosis. As I have already mentioned in this blog, diagnosing a car problem means using all your senses to find the culprit behind that problem. And when it comes to your senses, one of the most important senses that you have to use would be your nose, your sense of smell.

Weird odors are among the most common culprits behind a problem, and there can be a variety of odors depending on the issue. Below, we look at the three common odors that you need to pay attention to:

1. Gasoline smell

Needless to say, this is a dangerous smell. And, the most common reason behind this is a leak of your car fuel. It could be a leak on the fuel lines, the fuel pump, or even on the fuel cap. This problem should be attended to at once. Otherwise, a fire could always result, and the worst this could lead to is an explosion, something you sure don’t want in your car.

2. Rotten egg smell

This is a common smell that indicates a problem with the catalytic converter or the exhaust assembly. This means that you’re having an emissions trouble, and your car’s exhaust components need replacing or fixing. Attend to this at once before the problem gets more serious.

3. Burning smell

This could mean a problem in your car’s electrical system—a burnt out fuse or switch, or a shorted component. Like all the problems mentioned above, this also demands attention and must not be neglected.

If you notice any of the smells discussed, be sure that you do the necessary diagnosis to find the problem, address it, and prevent further troubles.

DIY Saturday: How to Use a Dipstick

You can compare the benefit of oil to your engine to the benefit of air to human beings. And much as we need to breathe in air so that we can survive daily, the engine needs oil so that it can work properly. One important part of car maintenance is the regular checking of the oil level in your engine, and this is a simple enough task that you can do anytime. How? Through a dipstick.

REMINDER: Be sure that your car is parked on a flat surface before you do the job to ensure that the level is accurate.

1. Locate the dipstick, which is under the hood of your vehicle. This is a long metal stick inserted in the engine. Depending on your vehicle, it may be bright in color or it may have the word “oil” on it.

2. Pull out the dipstick (it has a loop that you can hold) and wipe it off with a rag until the oil in it is removed.

3. To measure, re-insert it inside the engine (as far as you can) and then take it out.

4. Hold it horizontally to inspect the oil marking. You’ll see near the tip of the stick that it has two lines with crisscross marks between. The oil level should be within these lines. When it falls below, that means you need to load up.

5. Do the refill slowly, and be careful not to overfill – better fill less and just add more later than fill more and remove some. In between refills, check the level again and again until the measurement falls within the correct limit.

6. Once done, replace the stick on the engine and tighten the cap to avoid oil spills.

With the process done regularly, you can be sure your engine will always work in tiptop condition.

DIY Saturday: When It’s Normal, When It’s Not (Part II)

This post is the second half of my last DIY post, which talked about the different conditions in a vehicle and determined whether they are normal or not. The first two conditions mentioned in my last post were the presence of metal shavings in the oil pan and the presence of a pool of fluid underneath the car. In this post, we’ll look at another condition and determine which is normal and which is not. Read on.

Normal: Some steering fluid leaking from the power steering cap.

There are instances when you will notice traces of power steering fluid around the cap, and this doesn’t actually mean that there is anything damaged in your car. There’s actually a vent in the cap, and that vent is designed to allow fluid to leak out when needed. That leak could happen because you might have overfilled the power steering, and that’s only but normal.

Not Normal: Too much steering fluid leak that doesn’t seem to go away.

If you notice, however, that the leak has gone more serious and is almost always there, that could mean there’s an underlying problem. You might have a damaged gasket in the cap. Look into the possibility of overheating as well. The PS fluid might be continuously expanding, and therefore leaking, because it’s already too hot.

If this is the case, then you need to find out the reason for the overheating. Otherwise, if you neglect this, that continuous overheating and fluid expanding and leaking could eventually lead to the loss of power steering fluid in the system. And when that happens, you’ll have a problem with steering your car and you may also cause damage to some steering components.

Therefore, if you notice a problem like this, don’t panic. But, don’t be complacent, as well. Take the necessary action to fix the problem.

DIY Saturday: When It’s Normal, When It’s Not

No car is perfect—you have to accept that. Even brand new cars may have indications of imperfections. But, that doesn’t mean a certain abnormality in your vehicle always demands that you bring your ride to the mechanic. In many instances, there are “flaws” or “imperfections” or “abnormalities” in your vehicle that are actually normal and should not cause any alarm on your part. The occurrence of these doesn’t require you to bring your ride to the auto repair shop all at once. Take a look at the following:

Normal: The presence of some metal shavings in the oil pan

When you change oil and you see metal shavings in your oil pan, this is but normal, especially if you have just purchased your car and your engine is undergoing a process so-called as “breaking in.” You’re bound to see some metal shavings on the pan coming from the metal parts of your engine.

Not Normal: Too much metal shavings every time you change oil

If your engine is done with the break in process (usually during the first two oil changes), you’re not supposed to see a lot of metal shavings anymore. A little is okay, but too much is not—especially if you observe this EVERY TIME you do an oil change. This could mean intense wearing on engine parts. Remember to change your oil at the correct interval and inspect the parts that may be damaged.

Normal: A pool of fluid under your car

Well it’s normal, only if that’s water, which could be coming from your A/C system (the evaporator). Warm air passes through the evaporator coils, and this causes condensation on the coil surface, and water then drips from the said part. That’s perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.

Not Normal: A pool of oil, coolant, or gas under your car

While a pool of water is perfectly normal under your vehicle, a pool of other liquid substances is not. Oil leak could lead to engine overheating. Coolant leak could have the same effect. Gas leak, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous. You can check these because of their look and smell, and they require immediate attention.

Next Saturday, we’ll discuss more normal and abnormal conditions in your ride to help you determine when a problem already needs mechanic attention.

DIY Saturday: How to Do a Coolant Flush

The cooling system of your vehicle also deteriorates over time, especially the quality of the coolant used in its radiator and cooling assembly. It is because of this that periodic coolant flush and refill is important. Otherwise, when you continuously use the coolant even after its quality has already deteriorated, it won’t provide your vehicle with proper cooling and you may encounter engine overheating.

Luckily, you need not wait for something like this to happen. Doing a coolant flush is easy and you can accomplish this all by yourself. Here’s how:

1. Prepare everything that you will need: pan for the used coolant, new coolant, and radiator flush.
2. Remember not to do this work if your engine is still hot.
3. Position the coolant receptacle or pan below the radiator drain plug and then remove the plug to drain the coolant from the radiator.
4. Replace the plug and then open your radiator cap to fill your radiator with the radiator flush solution. Replace the cap and tighten it.
5. Start your vehicle and allow it to run until it reaches the right temp (refer on the gauge on your dash) – if there is an indicated number of minutes needed to run your engine as indicated in the radiator flush label, follow it.
6. Turn your vehicle off and let the engine cool before proceeding.
7. Drain the radiator flush (similar to what you did with the old coolant).
8. Refill the radiator, and the coolant reservoir, with new coolant mixed with water—follow the indications in the coolant when it comes to the right coolant-water mix ratio.

These simple processes take only a few minutes to complete, but they go a long way in keeping your cooling system and engine in good shape and in preventing possible problems and expensive repairs.

DIY Saturday: Some Auto Maintenance Mistakes Not to Commit

Auto maintenance is one of those things that you do everyday, as you drive your car or store it in your garage. It doesn’t necessarily require a mechanic. You can accomplish the job as long as you have some mechanical inclination and discipline. In doing your DIY maintenance, however, there are some mistakes that you have to avoid to ensure success.

Below are some of these:

1. Of course, the biggest mistake that you can commit is not following the proper maintenance schedule. Oil change, for instance, has to be done at the correct interval. Postponing this until sometime later can lead to problems as the oil may have already lost its lubricating properties and already cause problems among the parts that it lubricates.
2. Too frequent maintenance interval. This is the opposite of the first mistake, and I have already touched on this in some of my previous posts. Although frequent oil change or coolant flush will do no harm to your car, it can do harm on your pocket.
3. The use of wrong solutions for cleaning your car and car parts. Some drivers believe that detergents are fine to use when cleaning a vehicle, but not really. When you use them in your car’s body panels, they can strip off the protective coating of the panels such as your car wax. In the long run, this can cause more problems than solutions.
4. Not paying attention to small things. What are these things? An example is your car’s tire pressure. Not many drivers know that an improperly inflated tire affects a lot of things in your drive: your handling and braking, for instance. Additionally, it also causes premature tire wear and can even be dangerous. So, it’s very important not to neglect these things.

These are but some of the mistakes that you can commit in maintaining your vehicle. Take note of these and try to avoid these to keep your car in good shape for long.

DIY Saturday: How to Clean the Engine Bay

The engine bay of your car isn’t frequently seen—except of course by mechanics who do periodic inspection and repairs as necessary. Because of this fact, not many people ever consider cleaning the engine bay. But, the fact is that your engine compartment also needs some washing and degreasing now and then.

But wait, you say, won’t water damage parts under the hood? Well, there are some parts that are susceptible to water damage, such as electrical components. But, as long as you don’t directly spray and force water into these parts, they should be safe. Plus, of course, never allow water into the engine. For this reason, you can use aluminum foil to cover some susceptible parts. And of course, never clean a hot engine bay.

So, how should you go about the process? Well, after covering the parts you want covered (i.e. air filter), you can already spray a degreaser on the engine bay. Reminder: not too much pressure, please. Depending on the degreaser that you use, you may simply leave it on afterwards or you may need to wash it off (refer to the directions on the degreaser). If you need to rinse it off, wait for several minutes and then rinse off with water (again, don’t use strong pressure here). After rinsing, it’s time to dry the engine bay. You can turn the engine on, but only for about two minutes, to help in drying.

Afterwards, you can do the dressing of such parts as the rubber components. For all these components (as well as plastic parts) under the hood, you can use a tire cleaner to give them a good shine.

By regularly cleaning and dressing your engine bay, you do not only give it a good look but also keep the parts in the compartment protected from the damaging effects of elements like unwanted grease and dirt. So, you reduce instances of problems and repairs.

DIY Saturday: How to Care for Your Car Windshield

The windshield is one of the biggest panels that you will find in your vehicle. It’s also one of the most important, given the function that the said component performs. It’s the windshield which allows you to see the road ahead of you clearly when you drive, and it also protects you from the elements (incoming air, debris, etc.) while you’re behind the steering wheel.

Because of its location and its composition, however, the windshield is prone to damage. The normal form of wear and tear that it encounters is dimming. This happens because of the great amount of elements that the windshield encounters on your daily drives. In the highways, dirt and dust particles attach to the windshield surface. When you park under the shade of a tree, bird poop or tree sap can also fall into your windshield’s surface. And when these are neglected, they harden and become more difficult to remove. More serious than these, road debris like stones are sometimes thrown into the windshield, creating dings.

However, other than visiting an auto repair shop to have your windshield cleaned or to fix a ding, there are actually some things that you can do yourself to maintain the said part in good shape. When it comes to keeping the windshield clear and free from dirt, all it needs is regular cleaning. You will find cleaners in the market that are good for several uses. There are also glass treatment solutions that you can use to maintain the good condition of the part. If you have a ding on your windshield, there are repair kits that are designed to restore the windshield with ease. Many of these are formulated very simply and can be used without any complication involved.

With simple skills and with the use of the mentioned treatment solutions, it’s possible to keep your car windshield in good condition without having to go to auto repair shops.

DIY: Car Wash Tips 101

Your car being one of your biggest investments, it’s but important for you to want to maintain it and keep it not only functioning good but as well as looking good. One of the best means to do this is to give your car a wash regularly. Many people, especially those who are busy, just bring their vehicle to a car wash station and let the car wash folks do their job.

There’s no problem with this. But, if you look at the huge amount of money spent on car wash, you’ll see why it’s practical to do your car wash yourself. With just the right skills, and the right tips provided here, you can keep your car clean without spending a lot.

Tip #1: On the washing products used

Don’t go cheap on these by using household cleaners on your car (i.e. dishwashing or laundry detergent). They may have abrasive ingredients that could damage your car’s paint. Instead, go for cleaning products that are specifically formulated for specific areas in your vehicle. This way, you can be sure of an efficient cleaning job while ensuring protection to your car’s paint.

Tip #2: On the actual washing procedure

Before you actually wash your car with the soapy sponge, be sure that it’s been thoroughly rinsed with no dirt particles remaining on the surface. Once they get on the sponge, they may scratch the surface of your car body while you move the sponge for washing.

Tip #3: On drying your car

Use the right drying material such as chamois and don’t use just about any ordinary rag. Also, you can pat dry the surface instead of dragging the chamois across the surface.

So, ready to try doing your own carwash? The dollars you’ll save will surely be worth the time and effort.

DIY: How to Fix Broken Light Lenses

While the previous article discussed about a lighter or a less problematic light lens situation, that of cloudiness, we’ll talk about a more serious light lens problem in this write-up: breakage. Most drivers will immediately resort to bringing their car to the shop and go for a new lens to replace the broken one as soon as they notice the problem.

The good thing about this is that the lens being located outside, exposed to your vision, it’s easy to tell whether the shop did a good job right after it’s finished. But, despite this and the little possibility of rip off, there’s still a more effective way to save on the procedure. Want to do the repair on your own?

That’s easy! With either a red automotive tape or a repair compound to use, you can fix the problem yourself and save on your dollars. How?

Well, one way to do the repair is to get a red automotive tape. This is advised for a broken tail light lens, the breakage being just enough for the tape to cover (meaning, not too big). The said tape is translucent and will still allow the beams to shine through, so you won’t have any problem with illumination. One tip: apply the tape horizontally for best results.

Another means to repair a broken lens is with the use of a special repair kit. The kit comes with a plastic film, compounds to mix, and mixing tools. You will need to place or attach the film over the hole or broken part, only the attachment point should be the inside part of the lens (so lens removal is needed). Then, mix the compounds and apply on the broken part. Depending on the kit, a syringe may be provided for easy application. Just wait for the material to dry and your lens will be fine again.

DIY: How to Clean Clouded Light Lenses

All your vehicle lights are composed of a lens, the protective covering (in clear, amber, or red color) that serves as the cover of the bulb. This component is a reliable lighting part in that it offers protection while ensuring that the lighting beams emitted by the light bulb are directed out for sufficiently illuminating the road.

Most lenses before are made from glass, but the problem is that glass can easily break. Over the years, manufacturers have developed plastic lenses that are tougher and less susceptible to breakage. However, one challenge that plastic lenses pose is cloudiness. Over time, daily use and exposure to the environment can cause the lens to look dull, and there are two negative results: the lights look lousy and the amount of illumination emitted by the lights is reduced by the cloudiness in the lens.

But, aside from bringing your vehicle to the shop to have the lenses cleaned or replaced, you can actually do the cleaning yourself. All you will need is a cleaning brush and a cleaning solution. You may need a special lens cleaning solution, and you’ll find a wide array of choices in the market. For easier cleaning and to clean the inside part of the lens, you may want to remove the part from the lighting assembly.

All you need is a little portion of water to wet the lens and then to brush the lens with the cleaning or polishing solution. In some instances, you might want to sand the lens in order to remove the scratches and nicks that it might have accumulated over time—a smoother finish can do a lot in keeping the lens looking good. This easy process is all you need to restore your lighting lenses without too much expense on replacement or shop work.

DIY: How to Avoid Periodic Air Filter Replacement (Part 3 of 3)

Learning how to shop for an air filter and to replace an air filter is already a step towards getting more dollar savings and avoiding possible auto repair rip offs. If you want something more, then listen to this: you don’t need to buy a new air filter ever again!

What?! That’s possible? Yes, it is! Do you know that there are air filters designed for lifetime use? These filters will give you more, lifetime savings while protecting the environment from more waste materials.

In my last post, I mentioned about newer, higher-performance filter materials: foam and cotton cloth. Filters made from these materials are not only high in performance, able to allow more air to flow through and able to trap more dirt—many of them are also designed to be washable and reusable. Once they are dirty, all you have to do is to take them off your vehicle, wash them, let them dry, re-oil them, and mount them back in your ride, after which they will be ready for use again!

Every time your filter gets dirty, you can easily get an air filter cleaning kit to restore your car’s air filter back in shape. These kits come with air filter cleaners and air filter oil, perfect for restoring your vehicle’s air filter back to its good condition. The cleaning job is easy and you can do it on your own without any problem.

With a lifetime filter mounted in your vehicle, you won’t have to put up with air filter replacements anymore and you won’t have to hire a mechanic for the job. When you bring your car to a shop and the mechanic suggests replacing the filter, you can easily say “no, thanks” and enjoy the feeling of having more dollars saved in your pocket.

DIY: The Right Way to Shop for an Air Filter (Part 2 of 3)

As promised last Saturday, I’ll be devoting this entire week to DIY and how to procedures to help you with simple repairs that you can do on your own—say no to shop repairs and possible rip offs!

To start with, let’s continue last Saturday’s topic on air filter. If you’re mounting an air filter by yourself, that goes to say that you’ll be the one to shop for the replacement filter. You need to be wise with this. After all, your car’s air filter determines your engine’s health and performance.

So, how do you shop for an air filter, and what are the things that you need to consider? Well, the first point to remember is the fact that air filters have to do two things: they must allow air to flow through while trapping the damaging particles present in the air.

Material is the primary thing to consider when shopping for an air filter. Most stock filters are made from paper, and paper is a poor material. First, it doesn’t allow that much airflow. And two, it gets easily clogged by airborne particles. If you want the higher performance kind, there are two other material options: cotton cloth and foam. Both are better in performing the two functions mentioned.

Another consideration is design. You must go for the pleated type of air filter (it’s easy to find this since most filters today have this design). Pleats increase the surface area of the filter, so it can trap more particles.

If you want to get the most benefits from your air filter, you might want to pair it with a high-quality intake. This pertains to a mandrel-bent tube that allows more air to flow through it, giving you improved engine performance. With this combination, you’re sure to enjoy the most from your intake in performance and protection.

DIY Saturday: How to Change an Air Filter (Part 1 of 3)

Among the components of your vehicle that require periodic maintenance, inspection, and replacement are the filters. Because they constantly deal with fluid or air, and contaminants, they lose their trapping ability over time and they can restrict flow of air or liquid (fuel or oil). One of the important filters in your car is the air filter. It directly affects engine performance and should therefore be maintained well.

Because of its importance, no wonder it’s one of the components that many mechanics will ask you to replace when you bring in your car for a check. But, how do you really know whether the mechanic is telling you the truth or if he only wants some extra dollars? Well, air filter servicing is advised every 15000 miles. And, you’ll be glad to know that the process is easy and one that you can DIY. It’s a straightforward process that requires simple removal and installation. Shall we start?

Things you need:

* Screwdriver (standard and Philips)

* Rag for cleaning

* New air filter

PROCEDURES:

1. You’ll find the air filter in your engine compartment, so be sure that the engine is cool when you do this job.
2. Open the hood and prop it up, then find the casing that holds the air filter. Sometimes, there is a housing inside, which holds the filter within it.
3. You can use the screwdriver to pry open the casing and remove the clips. When you see the housing inside, remove the screws to open it.
4. You will see the filter inside the housing—simply remove it and clean the housing with the rag.
5. Lastly, put in the new filter and replace the screws and clips.

With these simple procedures, you can already do the air filter replacement on your own without relying on your mechanic.

Next Week: One whole week of how to’s  and DIY tips for all your replacement and repair needs.

DIY Saturday: A Look at Check Engine Lights

Check engine light - it’s just a very small light found on your dashboard, but it can cause panic and a lot of worry among car owners every time it illuminates, so much so that some drivers rush to the nearest mechanic shop whenever they see this light come on. Some drivers associate this light with engine trouble, and they can be correct in some degree. But, understand that the most innocent car owner can be ripped off because of this check engine light. This is especially true if you do not know anything about this light. The mechanic can easily tell you that the light means a huge repair and a lot of replacements, which mean more dollars for you.

But what is this light, really? Well, the check engine light is a simple indicator that will tell you when your vehicle computer notices a problem that it cannot fix on its own. But, understand that the said problem doesn’t always have to be critical or one that will cause engine breakdown. In fact, as simple as a loose fuel cap can cause the check engine light to come on. To find out what the exact problem is, auto repair shops use a scan tool. But, you should know that you can also DIY the code finding because there are available code readers that you can buy. The code will point you out to the specific issue.

Once you know the problem, you can take a look at the other symptoms until you determine which part is acting up. Once you already know that, you’ll be able to determine whether you can DIY the repair or replacement or whether you will need to bring your vehicle in for repair. By being sure of the problem, you can ascertain the cost and your risk of being ripped off will be reduced.

DIY Saturday: Testing the Radiator for a Leak

A coolant leak might not be a serious problem at first. When neglected, however, this can lead to serious and expensive engine damage. Therefore, it’s very important to pay attention to leaks. If you notice that your coolant level is always low, there’s a very good chance you have a leak somewhere. Check your garage floor underneath the car to see whether there’s a pool of coolant, especially in the morning after you leave your car there overnight. If there is, the radiator is one of the parts that you must inspect.

Do a visual inspection of the radiator to see whether there is any visible sign of damage, crack, hole, or even coolant leftover from which it leaked. If you can’t see any of these, you can resort to water testing. What is this? Well, you will need to fill the radiator with air—employ a pressure test kit for this and refer to the cap as to the amount of air needed. Then, you will have to immerse the radiator in water and see whether there is water getting into the radiator through holes. From outside, you’ll see this because air bubbles will escape as water gets through any hole in the empty radiator.

When you notice this, you can go for any of the three solutions available. One, if the holes and cracks are very small, you can simply plug them using specific additives that you simply pour into the radiator for self sealing. If the holes are larger, then you may need to solder these to seal them off. Meanwhile, if you have a serious radiator defect, you may want to simply discard the worn radiator and get a new one. Sometimes, this is better than fixing the said part and then having to deal with damage sometime soon.

DIY Saturday: How to Change a Tire

A flat tire is one of the most common things that car owners and drivers encounter every now and then. And while your first impulse during a flat tire incident may be to have your car towed to the nearest auto repair shop, you’ll be glad to know that changing a tire is very simple. As long as you have basic tools, and a spare tire of course, you’ll have no problem doing the task.

Things you’ll need:

·        Spare tire

·        Jack

·        Lug wrench

Some reminders:

·        Park your car in a flat surface before beginning the job and engage the parking brake.

·        Familiarize yourself with the area in your car where you can place the jack to support your car up. You can find this in your owner’s manual.

1. Once your car is already parked and stable in place, check whether it is equipped with a wheel lock, hubcap, or wheel cover. You will need to take these off. You can use the lug wrench for taking off the cover, or you can pry it off with something like a screwdriver.

2. Then, loosen the lug nuts using the wrench (in a star pattern as advised). There are cases when the nuts will not budge at once, in which case you can step or stomp on the wrench until the nuts are loose. Do not remove just yet, though.

3. Then, support and lift your vehicle with the jack (slowly). Safety is of utmost importance here, so be sure your car is stable when lifted.

4. When your car is already lifted, you can now remove the lug nuts (be sure you keep them where you can easily retrieve them afterwards), and remove the flat tire.

5. You can now install the new tire. Align it with the bolts, and then replace the lug nuts.

6. Let your car down and then tighten the nuts. Put back the hubcap and you’re all set, ready to drive again.

DIY Saturday: How to Replace Your Oil Pan

The oil pan in your vehicle serves as the storage container of the oil used to lubricate the engine as it works. It is the main oil reservoir, so it’s carefully placed underneath your ride to secure the oil inside it. There are instances, though, when the pan gets damaged and leaks. And during these instances, it’s but normal for drivers to panic and come running to their trusted mechanic for a replacement. After all, an unattended pan that’s damaged could cause more serious damage on the engine.

But, before you think of going to an auto repair shop, you might want to know that you can actually replace the pan on your own—the process is easy if you have the right tools. Check these out:

You will need:

* The new oil pan and gasket

* Wrenches for removing the oil pan plug and the oil pan bolts

Procedure:

1. Gain access to the oil pan and drain all the oil in the said container by removing the oil pan plug.
2. Once all the oil has drained, it’s time to remove the pan. Remove all the bolts that connect the pan to the engine using the wrench.
3. Clean the engine surface and remove any remaining gasket before preparing the new pan and gasket for installation.
4. Carefully line up the gasket with the oil pan.
5. Line up the pan (with gasket) with the engine, and replace the bolts in their proper location.
6. Fill with oil and inspect for leaks.

The process is easy and does not take a lot of time to finish. And with the basic tools needed, it’s one task that you will have no problem doing in your garage. All you need to spend on would be a high-quality replacement pan and gasket.