News Do-it-yourself auto repair

Automotive repair can be tricky for those who know nothing about vehicles, and that’s totally fine. There are, however, certain aspects of auto repair that you can handle yourself, even with little vehicle knowledge. Although there are plenty of repairs that should be left up to the professionals, like smog inspection and complicated engine work, here are a few things that you should be able to tackle.

• Oil Care - You should change your oil at least once every 4,000 to 5,000 miles. It’s important to note that you should never change your oil immediately after driving your car. Wait for the engine to cool and then you can begin.

• Spark Plugs - Take a look at your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find out how frequently you should replace your spark plugs. Most plugs should be replaced after approximately 30,000 miles. You’re going to need a socket wrench and a socket extension before you begin. The spark plugs are attached to thin wires and there are either four, six, or eight plugs, depending on what kind of engine your car has.

• Air Filter - Every 10 or 12 months, or 10,000 or 12,000 miles, you should replace your vehicle’s air filter. The job should only take about 10 to 15 minutes to finish and can be very cheap. The filter is located under your hood in a black box with metal clips. When you open it up, make sure you see which direction the filter is facing, so you can put the new one in the same way. Take out the old filter and then put the new one in and close down the metal side clips.

• Windshield Wipers - This is another easy project that should only take about 10 minutes and only cost you about $10 to $15. You should think about changing your wiper blades after about a year of driving. Simply lift the wiper blades up and remove them. Again, make a mental note about which direction the blades face and how they connect to the rest of the wiper. Attach the new blades just like the old ones were and make sure they are tightly secured.

The average vehicle on the road is a record-high 11.4 years old. That means a lot of maintenance is needed to keep these vehicles running. If you can do some of these tasks yourself and know when to get professional help, your car will be running great for a long time.

Some of the tasks that are better left for the experts to handle are smog inspection, tire rotation, serious engine work, and brake padding. If you need smog inspection services, or any other quality automotive service in Roseville, California, visit Duncan’s Automotive today!