 Quick post for all those newly-adulting-adults out there that may or may not have any idea what to do to keep your car running in tip-top shape.
The two most important things are: 1) Check the tire pressure - Get a super expensive tire gauge (something like this; probably $8) - Unscrew the cap, turn the gauge on, and put it firmly directly on (not at an angle) - The tire pressure will show up on the gauge. If it's too low vs recommended (google it), go to a gas station and pump the tire(s) up. Bonus: you can do this for free at most gas stations! 2) Check the oil You can do this one yourself too! - Make sure your car is parked on level ground (not a hill) and isn't too hot or cold (has been run recently) - Grab a rag - Pop the hood (usually a lever near the floor by the driver seat door) - Find the oil dipstick (usually a yellow circle sticking out near the engine) - Wipe off oil from the dipstick with the rag. Then put the dipstick back in and remove it one more time - Look at the line where the oil level is. If it's too low put in more oil or change the oil if it's time (and yes, change the oil filter every time you change the oil) Beyond that, finding yourself a good mechanic will definitely be a good long-term idea. But if you do 1 and 2 above you should be in much better shape than most - and it's something you can easily do yourself! Comments are closed.
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