Avoid These Mistakes When Doing Any Car Maintenance Yourself

A simple mistake in the car repair process can cause a lot of damage to your car. Most car owners feel much more comfortable working with a typical auto repair shop, such as: Refilling the car’s engine oil and starting the car battery.

Repairing your own car has several advantages. Aside from the fact that you don’t have to spend a little extra money to send the car to a mechanic, it makes you feel better. It also saves time.

We know it’s wise to learn from your mistakes, but there’s a saying that “prevention is better than cure.” Also, some bugs are too costly to even be worth the experience. With this in mind, we have pointed out four common car DIY mistakes you should avoid: 

Do not change the spark plugs

Car owners either do not know this or are willing to put it off. For this reason, it is recommended to read the manufacturer’s manual when purchasing a car. This manual provides guidance on certain basic maintenance procedures that you can perform yourself. Damaged spark plugs can cause a “check engine” light, and ignoring replacement can cause even greater damage, as this is what happens when you need to buy a new catalytic converter .

Do not replace the spark plugs while the engine is still hot. If the spark plugs need to be changed, it’s best to do it in the morning before using the car, or wait a few hours after parking.

When your car’s spark plugs can no longer effectively bridge the gap between the electrodes, it’s time to replace the spark plugs. At such a point, you will begin to experience symptoms such as engine misfires and poor acceleration.

Don’t remove car batteries  negligently 

When removing and replacing the car battery Car batteries can last up to 5 years with proper care. However, its lifespan also depends on other factors such as climate, frequency of use, and distance traveled. Car owners sometimes make the mistake of overcharging or undercharging their car batteries, resulting in poor battery life.

Another mistake is trying to remove dead batteries in the wrong order. Before you replace your car battery, you should make sure the new battery you are replacing is fully charged. Then disconnect the negative cable first. Remove the clamps and lift the dead battery, making sure the battery is held upright. This is to prevent the acid solution from leaking out. A new battery can then be placed in the position of the previous battery.

If your car is a newer model, you may want to test your vehicle’s alternator by disconnecting the battery while the engine is still running. You can do that and get away with older models that don’t have a lot of computers and electronics built in, but in modern cars that are well equipped with these devices, the alternator runs at high voltage levels. may cause damage to objects. Instead, use a voltmeter to test your alternator.

Engine oil change 

Do not ignore the car manufacturer’s manual. Get a guide and ideas on how often to change your oil. This is necessary because every car is different and failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended oil changes can damage the engine. Using the wrong engine oil can cause your vehicle to behave erratically.

Also, be careful not to operate with low oil pressure all the time. Running with very low oil pressure can damage your engine in minutes. Using the wrong engine oil can wreak havoc on your engine, so be careful when you do this. 

Do not remove the old oil filter

As the name suggests, an automobile oil filter filters engine oil, removing impurities that may have accumulated in the oil over time. If this is not done and the engine oil is contaminated, several parts of the engine are likely to fail.

The oil filter should be changed at every oil change. Car owners make the mistake of installing the wrong filter or not fixing it correctly. Do not overtighten, as this may damage the O-ring. Also, replace the oil filter with the O-ring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion 

Because these four straightforward DIY blunders were made, many engines were wrecked. Now that you are aware of the faults to avoid, you can protect your engine.

DIY projects are fun and cost-effective, but before you start, be sure you know what you’re doing.