The cost of living continues to increase in 2024, and most consumers are trying to save money daily. One great option is to consider doing some basic car maintenance by yourself as opposed to bringing it to the dealership for every small thing.
Car maintenance can seem daunting to the uninitiated but many tasks are straightforward enough for DIYers to handle in the comfort of their garage.
So why bother doing it yourself? It’s greasy and you need tools for certain things.
Well, dealerships and mechanic shops aren’t cheap. They typically charge between $75 to $150 per hour for labor. For instance, an oil change can cost upwards of $70 at a shop, even more for a premium brand vehicle, while you can do it yourself for under $30. Other maintenance items might merely require the parts and you can save on the labor.
Taking on these tasks will not only save you money but also provide with you a better understanding of your vehicle. We’ll go through a list of several very easy items to replace and also mention a couple of slightly more difficult tasks for those who have a bit more experience and comfort.
Where Do I Get The Parts?
Before you get started, you’ll obviously need to have the part in hand. Parts are widely available but if you’re looking for a specific part or you don’t know the part number, sites such as 7zap.com have an online catalog of OEM car parts so you can research the part you require.
Parts are listed by category which makes looking them up easy, and they’ll also let you purchase them online for convenience.
Replacing Air Filters
Credit: Ted Russell Ford Lincoln
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Tools Needed: New air filter
Air filters are a wear-and-tear item that needs occasional replacement. They prevent dust, dirt, and other contaminants from entering the engine, as well as filter them out before they reach the cabin through the vent intake system.
The frequency of air filter replacement can vary depending on driving conditions and vehicle type, but a general guideline is to replace the air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or approximately once a year.
The cost typically ranges from $20 to $50 and replacing them is a simple task that requires no special tools. It will help maintain engine efficiency and prolong its life. You’ll breathe better too.
Changing Windshield Wipers
Credit: Wrench, Inc.
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Tools Needed: New windshield wiper blades (or new rubber inserts)
Replacing windshield wipers is another maintenance task that can be done quickly and easily. They’re commonly found in parts stores and the auto department at chains like Walmart. Aftermarket wipers are usable but you just need to ensure that the product is compatible with your vehicle. Windshield wipers should be changed every six months to a year to ensure clear visibility during adverse weather conditions.
It’s typically as easy as lifting the wiper arms away from the windshield, pressing a tab to release the old wiper blade, and sliding the new blade on until it clicks in place.
The plastic of the blades doesn’t always need to be replaced so you can also look at just replacing the rubber inserts instead.
Replacing a Car Battery
Credit: Capital One
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Tools Needed:
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- New car battery
- Wrench
- Battery terminal cleaner (optional)
If you’ve owned a car long enough, you’ll inevitably need to replace the car battery at least once. Fortunately, this task is straightforward and requires minimal tools. The frequency of car battery replacement can vary based on several factors, but on average, a car battery should be replaced every 3 to 5 years.
Factors that impact this can include climate (extremely hot or cold weather can shorten lifespan), driving habits, and especially if you’ve run the battery out in the past, in which case it doesn’t have enough of a charge to crank over even after you’ve recharged it.
You don’t want to be stranded so it’s best to proactively replace your car battery every 3 to 5 years, depending on the factors mentioned. Regular checks and maintenance can help you get the most out of your battery’s lifespan.
Changing the battery can be as simple as using a wrench to loosen the old one, putting a new battery in, and tightening up the nuts again.
Oil Changes
Credit: Shaganappi GM
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Tools Needed:
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- Fresh oil
- Oil filter
- Wrench / oil filter wrench
- Drain pan
- Funnel
The next item on our list is still relatively easy but requires a bit more comfort under the hood. Changing your car’s oil is one of the most fundamental maintenance tasks and over the long term, can you significant amounts of money compared to visiting a shop.
Engine oil goes on sale frequently and you can pick it up for nearly half price in some cases. Save on the 1.5 hours of labor and that’s hefty change back in your pocket.
We won’t go into the specifics of an oil change but it typically goes like this: remove the oil filter and let the old oil drain into a pan, screw the new oil filter in and refill the engine using the appropriate type and amount of oil using a funnel.
The only caveat is that you’ll need to properly contain and dispose of the oil.
Rotating Tires / Swapping Wheels
Credit: Instructables
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Tools Needed:
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- Car jack
- Tire tread gauge
- Lug wrench / impact wrench
- Torque wrench (optional)
Rotating tires and swapping wheels are a good idea for different reasons. Rotating your tires will ensure even wear. Whether you drive a FWD, RWD, or an AWD, you’ll extend their lifespan and improve performance.
On the other hand, if you have more than 1 set of wheels (e.g., a separate set of winter tires), you can store them in a shed and change them yourself when the time comes without having to load everything up or even pay a dealership to store them for you.
A car jack is a must for this task and a tire tread gauge can tell you which tires are wearing out quicker than the others. To make the removal of the lug nuts much easier, an impact wrench is infinitely easier than a manual lug wrench. Once the wheel is changed over and the nuts are back on, a torque wrench will let you torque them to specifications.
Save Some Money
We chose to list these 5 maintenance tasks because they represent a good balance between ease and the need for a limited amount of tools.
Most of them can be done with basic tools and some patience. Since every car is different, always consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions and safety precautions before beginning any maintenance work.
