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: 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.

Why Higher Grade Fuel Doesn’t Always Mean Better

Are you one of those car owners who are so careful with your car that you do everything to protect it from possible (sometimes imaginary) damage? Are you one of those car owners who are very strict on oil change interval that you’d rather change oil earlier than later? Are you one of those individuals who opt to go for premium fuel even if it’s not required in your vehicle just to protect your engine from possible damage caused by pre-ignition?

I have news for you: you might be going over the top, especially with the use of premium fuel. The fact is, premium fuel isn’t a must. In fact, even those cars that are said to require premium fuel can still use the regular kind. All you really have to watch out for when using regular fuel is the possible occurrence of pre-ignition or knocking. This incident can be best described as “self-explosion”, meaning the explosion of the mixture inside the engine even before it is ignited by the spark plugs. This can happen with the use of regular fuel—in some cases.

However, that’s easy now because most cars already have a knock sensor, which can adjust the engine when it detects knocking. Also, the first occurrence of pre-ignition does not automatically spell engine damage. And, when knocking occurs upon your use of a particular grade of fuel, you can easily climb to the next grade and see if the knocking disappears.

There’s also this misconception about premium fuel having the ability to clean the engine, but that’s not really true. Yes, they may have a little amount of cleaner, but it won’t actually make any difference.

So, if you have the tendency to choose premium fuel over the regular kind, even if it’s not even required for your vehicle, you must know that you’re only wasting money.

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.

Auto Part Conditions that Require Immediate Attention

Yesterday, we elaborated on immediate car repairs and repairs that you can postpone for later, looking at specific systems such as the suspension and the brakes. Today, let’s take a look at specific parts instead. And instead of discussing the two types of condition mentioned in my last post (those that require immediate repairs and those that don’t), let’s focus only on conditions that necessitate immediate attention.

TIRES:

It is advised that these components be replaced every 6 years, but that’s not the only measure. The real criterion to check would be the tread of the tires. If they have gone too thin (the given figure here is 1.6mm or less), then that is a great indication that the tire is already nearing its lifespan.

BELTS:

Belt damage and failure is not easy to detect, mainly because it doesn’t manifest any symptom. So, the only preventative maintenance that you can do to ensure that it won’t break is to replace it before or on the given period interval. You will find this in your manufacturer’s manual. Once the belt reaches its replacement period, you should get a new one immediately. Otherwise, when it breaks, you’ll be facing a more serious trouble as this can lead to a damaged engine.

LIGHTS:

Whether it’s your headlights, tail lights, or signal lights, they need to be replaced at once when damaged—not only because of the safety threats that they pose but as well as the road regulations being imposed today. A damaged lens could be tolerable for a while, but a completely busted bulb spells trouble.

Automotive problems in general have to be addressed at once. But, there are more important problems that should be addressed now as may be suggested by your mechanic. By familiarizing yourself with these problems, you’ll know how to deal with repair suggestions.

Car Services That Can Wait and Car Problems that Need Immediate Attention

I had a previous post discussing an overview of the categories of repairs that your mechanic may suggest when you bring your vehicle to the shop for repair, namely immediate repairs and repairs needed as preventative maintenance. Today, let’s talk about the car services that you can pass up when your mechanic suggests them, services that you can schedule for next time, and those that you need to perform ASAP.

BRAKES

Problems with brake parts almost always require immediate attention, simply because brakes are safety components. Pads that have lost their friction materials, calipers that stick, and rotors that are damaged should be repaired immediately because failure to do so could lead to life-threatening accidents.

SUSPENSION

When to say yes to repair: When the suspension problem is causing extensive wear on other components or when your handling is already affected. Sometimes, suspension problems accelerate such things as tire wear, and neglecting them can lead to more expenses in the end.

When to pass up: If the repair is suggested only to improve your ride quality, make it smoother and make your ride experience more convenient, then it is not an urgent need.

IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, and INTAKE

These three systems are directly concerned with the amount of power that the engine generates. Fuel, air, and spark are the primary ingredients in combustion, and it’s important that the systems handling them be in top shape at all times. Problems encountered in these systems require immediate attention, or your engine’s performance may be affected—sometimes, even your vehicle’s gas mileage.

The next post will be a continuation of this post, but we’ll be looking at individual components rather than entire systems, and then focus on conditions that should not be ignored once they are observed in order to avoid further problems in the future.

Immediate Repairs vs. Preventive Maintenance

When you bring your vehicle to a shop for a repair, it seldom happens that a shop will only deal with the repair needed. In most cases, you’ll have to deal with mechanics telling you that you also need to replace this particular filter, or a technician saying that he found this particular part also damaged and needing some fixing. Needless to say, the hundred dollars you plan to spend could very well go up to a thousand dollars after the mechanic inspected your car.

So, how do you deal with things like this? Well, keep in mind that not all mechanics telling you this are actually planning to rip you off. Some of them are only trying to do their job. They find something else that needs fixing, and they tell you about it—just so you will consider the suggestion. If you want to know which suggestion to take and which to refuse, one best means would be to determine which of the suggested services needs immediate attention and which can be dealt with later on.

Immediate repairs and services are needed for parts that might break down anytime and cause damage or endanger your life when not replaced at once. These include damaged brakes, not paying attention to which can lead to accidents. However, services performed as preventive maintenance, those that will prevent the fast wearing of some parts but are not actually critical, may be postponed at a later date.

If you’re not sure which services have to be immediate and which can be performed later without grave consequences, ask your mechanic. Ask what might happen if the suggested repair will not be performed. Any good mechanic will tell you that. Now if you notice the mechanic is trying to hide something, well that’s another story.

DIY Saturday: Doing an Oil Change

An oil change is probably the simplest automotive task that you can do on your own - no need to take your chances bringing your vehicle to a shop and probably getting ripped off.

Oil change involves three major processes, and it only requires simple tools (wrench, container for catching oil, and funnel). Shall we start?

Precautions before starting:

1. Park your vehicle in a flat and solid surface and be sure that it’s stable.

2. Don’t let the oil spill. Have the container ready to catch the old oil that you’ll drain.

3. Be sure that the engine is cold when you do the task.

4. You’ll need a new oil filter to replace the old one.

1: Drain the old oil.

·         Find the oil pan and its plug underneath your car. Open it to allow the old oil to drain. Just be sure you have the container ready to catch the oil.

·        Once all the old oil has drained, replace the plug and tighten to the correct torque specs.

2. Replace the oil filter.

·        Remove the filter (often accessed from underneath your vehicle, depending on car make and model) using a wrench and be careful not to spill the oil inside it.

·        Place the new oil filter (apply oil on the filter’s gasket) and fill it with oil – not too full.

3. Fill your engine with oil.

·        Use the funnel when filling up to avoid spill.

·        Check your manual to determine the amount of oil that your engine needs. Don’t fill it up to full capacity. After filling up, measure the oil level using a dipstick and add oil as necessary.

Doing your own oil change is not only cost saving, it’s also empowering to a vehicle owner. So if you’re someone who’s planning to start doing some of the tasks required in your vehicle so that you can avoid instances of having to bring your ride to a shop, an oil change is a good way to start.