Maintaining your car yourself – self-maintenance

A person maintains his car himself, either to save some money or to feel satisfied. Studying abroad for a motor oil company has proven that 50% of the oil sold is bought by people who change it themselves.

People who do the maintenance themselves also buy a large amount of car care and maintenance products such as fluids, filters, spark plugs, brake friction linings, batteries…etc.

Sometimes when doing maintenance work we forget to follow proper maintenance steps and we may end up doing more damage than benefits. This does not mean that you should not maintain your car yourself, but before you do that we must learn from our mistakes.

The following is a list of the common mistakes that most people who do their own car maintenance make themselves:

Not reading the owners manual; Most of the errors can be avoided very simply by looking at the maintenance manual for the car. It contains the specifications of the parts and fluids that the car needs, and in most cases it contains instructions and steps for maintenance. Even if you think you know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t do anything without consulting your vehicle’s maintenance manual first.

 selection of unsuitable parts and materials; An example is motor oil, as it is found in different classifications in terms of density and additives. As well as air and oil filters, they come in different sizes and shapes. The car owner’s manual contains the size of the filters, for example, and other specifications for the rest of the parts and materials.  

pouring oil or liquids into the wrong place; This is one of the major errors that can be exposed to the engine of your cars. This mostly happens in the case when the car owner is in a hurry, used the wrong oil can, or poured it in the wrong place. Or that some people do this process without sufficient lighting, instead of adding oil to the engine, they discover in the morning that they have lubricated the radiator.

neglecting to change the filters; Air filters and oil filters should be given special attention. The oil filter must be changed every time the oil is changed or as specified in the vehicle owner’s manual. The air filter must also be changed according to the vehicle’s owner’s manual, and cleaned or replaced when it is clogged or deteriorating. 

using the wrong kit; There is an old saying that says: “There is a job for every job, and there is a job for every job.” There is a reason for the invention of the oil filter lift kit and spark plug switch. Use a different sized bit or wrench as this may damage the screw head.

installation of parts without adequate care; There are many car owners who change the spark plugs on their own as part of the tune-up process. Despite its simplicity, care must be taken not to break the insulating layer of the spark plug or bend the front of the spark plug and the clearance of the spark plug poles varies. If the candle electrode clearance differs, you will have problems with ignition and engine operation. And make sure you have purchased the right spark plugs for your vehicle.

disposal of maintenance waste harmful to the environment; After your vehicle has been serviced, you may have used oil, some fluids, an old battery, or other parts that need to be disposed of. This waste is usually harmful to the environment if disposed of in the waste bin. Or spill liquids on the floor. Engine oil must be disposed of according to municipal procedures. As for the disposal of used batteries and tires, it is often done by replacing them in the same shop from which the new parts were purchased.

Failure to follow up on what was done in the maintenance process; After completing the oil change or any of the similar operations, you always return to follow what was done the next day to make sure that the installed parts are not loose. And that the parts are fixed in place well, and that there is no leakage of oil or fluids of the car.

failure to follow safety principles; Not knowing how to deal with the car in terms of personal safety or the safety of the vehicle may lead to serious and serious problems. Such as how to lift the car using the winch, rotating parts such as the belt and fan should be avoided, and hot parts such as the brake disc, cooling water, case and exhaust pipe should be avoided. Avoid pressurized fluids, such as hydraulic brake servo and steering servo. Avoid high voltage electricity such as spark plug wires. And do not run the engine indoors in the absence of a way to get rid of exhaust gases. Maintain the car by following the correct maintenance steps.

 Not performing maintenance at an adequate rate; Unfortunately, the biggest maintenance mistakes we make are not the things we did, but the things we didn’t do. Such as not maintaining the correct inflation of the tire, not following the level of coolant, and engine oil, leaving the spark plugs until damaged, leaving the battery poles to wear out. All of this can be avoided by making a regular maintenance schedule, and following it.

This article cautions that the maintenance that you do on your own for your car, can be economical and entertaining if it is done with full knowledge and care, and avoiding the mistakes of others.