During uncertain times like these, you might not feel comfortable going to get car maintenance done on your vehicle and there are so many things that you may not know how to do when it comes to taking care of your car. A simple DIY guide can help clear all of the confusion and questions up that you may need answered regarding your car.

When it comes to car maintenance it doesn’t have to be difficult. From at home oil changes, replacing windshield wiper fluid, to changing your own tire, this guide will surely help you get through the year without having to leave the comfort of your home.

Before you can begin car maintenance from your own home you will need to know the tools you are going to use and how you plan on getting them. We all know you can buy almost anything online, so, with that being said if you aren’t comfortable going out during the pandemic, you can order it online and have it delivered. If you are looking for a cheaper way to get things done and feel comfortable enough to go to the store, you can find all of your automotive supplies at any auto store and even some retail stores.

Below are a few DIY: car maintenance tasks you can do at home without even having to leave. Nothing is more relieving than knowing you can fix something yourself for half the cost and plus, the tasks aren’t as difficult as they seem.

1) Replacing Windshield Wiper Fluid

Ever noticed your windshield looking dirty and you turn on your fluid spray to clean your glass? It’s safe to say we have all done this before and sometimes when you attempt to clean your dirty auto glass, nothing comes out. When you run into this issue it is time to replace your windshield wiper fluid so your windshield starts looking brand new. Check out these steps to get the job done:

• Open your hood and find your washer fluid reservoir
• Remove the cap(s) and check the fluid level in the reservoir
• Replace the cap and press down until you hear the cap pop into place.
• Close the hood.
• Place the top back on the bottle of windshield wiper fluid and clean off any supplies you may have used with water.

2) At Home Oil Change

Yes it’s true. You can change your oil at home and you only need a few things to do it. Professionals say you should get your oil changed about every 5,000 miles. Some will change it every 4 months or so if they don’t track their mileage. Changing your oil at home can save you a little bit of money but can sometimes be a challenging task if you have never done this before. To change you oil at home you will need:

• Wrench to remove drain plug (box end or socket)
• Oil filter wrench
• Oil drain pan
• Funnel
• Latex gloves
• Car jack

Materials Required:

• Oil
• Oil filter
• Replacement drain plug washer

Once you’ve got all of your supplies you can begin the process of your at home oil change. This may be one of the most important car maintenance tasks you never want to ignore. Changing your oil can prevent your engine from being damaged and other internal issues with your vehicle. Now that you’ve got the tools here are the 9 simple steps you will need to complete to do an at home oil change.

1. Check the type and amount of oil needed
2. Get together your filter, wrenches, and other supplies
3. Prepare your vehicle
4. Locate the oil filter and drain plug
5. Drain the oil
6. Tighten the drain plug
7. Change the oil filter
8. Add the new oil
9. Check the oil level

3) Changing Your Vehicle’s Air Filter

Did you know that changing your vehicle’s air filter prolongs the life of your engine? Your air filter is designed to trap dirt or debris that can damage internal engine parts. With that being said, if you don’t regularly change your air filter you are putting your engine at risk.

Changing your air filter is a simple car maintenance task anyone can accomplish and guess what? It only takes a few minutes, if you know exactly what you’re doing. Take a look at these steps on how to change your vehicle’s air filter:

• Open your car’s hood
• Find the engine air filter housing (It’s in a black plastic box)
• Open the air filter housing and take out the old air filter
• Take out the fasteners
• Remove the top of the air filter housing and take out the air filter
• Clean any dirt or debris that is in the housing by wiping it out with a rag
• Take a look at the old engine air filter
• If it has a lot of dirt in it, time to change it
• Place the new engine air filter in the filter box (Insert with rubber rim facing up)
• Put the top of the housing back on and put the fasteners back on
• Close your hood
• You’re all done

There are so many other at home car maintenance skills you can acquire and Auto Glass Doc is just scratching the surface. All of these tasks take time but with the right tools and knowledge anything is possible to do on your own.