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Car Maintenance You Shouldn't Try at Home

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Car Maintenance You Shouldn't Try at Home

In a troubled economy, many people look for ways to cut costs by doing household tasks themselves. Some automotive jobs can be done fairly easily at home, particularly if you know something about cars. However, taking on the wrong job on your own will only cost you more time, stress and money in the long run. My name is Jill, and I want to tell you about which car maintenance tasks you can safely tackle on your own and which really do require some help from a pro. I'll break down the needs of a typical car and tell you exactly why you might need to ask for help sometimes.

3 Things Every Car Owners Needs To Know To Take Care Of Their Car

9 February 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Taking care of your car is important not only for the livelihood of the car, but for your safety as well. If you drive a car that is not in good working condition you put yourself at risk for malfunctions while driving. This is why it is important to catch problems early and get them repaired as to avoid any serious problems. Here are some things that you should be looking for in your car.

1. Puddles Of Fluid Around The Car

Leaking fluids is a fairly simple thing to detect and can help you know that there is a problem with the car. For example, you might notice a puddle in your garage or driveway, or see spills around the car whenever you park it. This is a sign that something in the car is faulty and needs to be looked at. Try putting cardboard under the car when you park it and see what kind of fluid is leaking, this will help you to locate where the problem is.

If the color of the fluid is black, this means that it is motor oil and that there is a potential problem with your engine. If the fluid is pink or red this means it is the transmission. Either way these problems should not be ignored, since driving with low fluid can further damage the car. Consequently, if you notice this problem, take it to a mechanic as soon as possible.

2. Any Type Of Loud Noise

Cars aren't necessarily silent when you drive them, but they also shouldn't be making any loud noises either. If you hear clanking, grinding, or a loud wheezing while you drive you have a problem. Periodically you should turn off the music in the car and listen to how the car sounds while it is being driven, especially on the freeway when you get to higher speeds. This will help you to better hear if there are any problems.

Loud noises can be caused from a number of things, which is why it is important to take it to a mechanic for a diagnosis.

3. Smoke

Lastly, look for smoke coming from the car while you drive. In some cases it could just be that a little oil spilled and it burning off. But in more serious cases it could be a problem with the engine, or the car is overheating. This is why it is better to take your car in if you notice any smoke.

By looking for these signs you can protect your car from serious damage. Click here for more info on car care tips and help.