4 DIY Car Maintenance Tricks You Can Do At Home

Calling all DIY’ers! If you want to save money and don’t mind rolling up your sleeves, here are some car maintenance tips you can try to reduce trips to the shop.

Your vehicle is an investment and needs to be taken care of. The best time to perform car maintenance is before something goes wrong, and the changing of the seasons is a good time to get your car ready for the weather ahead. Not only will car maintenance help prevent a breakdown, but doing some work yourself could help you avoid large repairs and save money.

Here are 4 DIY car maintenance tricks you can do yourself:

1.Replace Windshield Wiper Blades

If the blades are cracked, worn, leave streaks of water on the windshield, or are older than one year, it is time for them to be replaced. All you need are new blades, which can be purchased for around $15. Don’t forget the rear wiper blades!

2.Replace Headlights

Headlights burn out. Unless the headlights are sealed, you can replace headlight bulbs yourself for around $14 to $27 for a single bulb or $25 to $50 for a dual pack. This can be tricky depending on the make and model of your car, but will save you some money.

3.Replace the Air Filter

The air filter keeps dirt and particles from getting into the engine when the engine takes in air. A dirty filter can affect gas mileage and engine performance. A new engine air filter costs around $15 and should be replaced every six months.

4.Replace Spark Plugs

The spark plug is the part of the engine that ignites the gas and air that cause combustion. When spark plugs fail, gas mileage goes down, there may be trouble starting the car, or you might fail an emission test. Most spark plugs need to be replaced after about 30,000 miles, but check the owner’s manual to see if your vehicle is any different. A new spark plug costs $10 to $15. You’ll find either four, six, or eight plugs, depending on how many cylinders your car has.

Before doing any car maintenance, check the owner’s manual for the correct sizes and types of parts for your car, as well as how often they should be replaced. For more DIY car maintenance tricks and tips, check out apps such as RepairPal and online websites and videos such as AutoMD and ExpertVillage. Protect your car more and get a car insurance quote from Acuity!