Auto Repair Basics for Women

When it comes to cars, it is likely true that most women could care less about tire pressure, oil changes, wiper fluid or anti-freeze. In fact, most auto repair topics sound like an unintelligible mess of words all jumbled up in nonsensical sentences. There ARE women out there who are terrific mechanics or at least know their way around a toolbox. If you are one of them, you can stop reading and go back to tinkering with your tools. However, if you would never consider picking up an auto repair manual then you may find the next few tips to be helpful.

Tip #1 - your car needs to have its oil changed every 3,000 miles, or every three months. The oil needs to be changed because as your engine uses the oil, the oil gets dirty and contaminated with various debris and particles that are harmful to your engine. By changing the oil frequently you can reduce the problems that dirty oil can cause. You can change the oil yourself or have a trusted family member or neighbor do it for you. However, oil change facilities are abundant and the process is fairly quick. You can schedule an oil change during your lunch hour or for another time that suits your schedule.

Tip #2 - your car needs to have its fluids checked on a regular basis. Most fluids will be checked and topped off during an oil change (another great reason to get that done) but sometimes fluids need to be added more frequently. For instance, you may not realize that your washer fluid is low until you are driving and need to clean your windows. Adding washer fluid is cheap and easy, so scan your owner's manual for a quick how-to and take care of that one yourself.

Tip #3 - your tires are not going to last forever. It is important to check the tread on your tires and have them replaced before you end up on the side of the road with a flat tire during a monsoon. A good way to check the tread is with the "penny test." Take a penny and put Abe Lincoln's head into the tread. As long as part of his head is covered by tire, then you're okay. If the tire tread does not touch his head, then it is time for new tires.

Tip #4 - atypical noises are not to be ignored. If you hear a knock, click or bang that is not normal, then you need to have it checked out. Car problems do not go away on their own. Give your mechanic a call or stop by the auto repair shop and ask them to check it out. Better safe than sorry rings truer here than in many other cases.

Your car is a first and foremost a machine, so take care of it. Well-maintained machines can run for a very long time.