DIY, or “do it yourself,” is a great phrase to know, and a better hobby to have. If you own a house, car, or various gadgets and electronics, then learning how to fix them, clean them, build them, or simply to maintain them can save you money.
You might also like to tackle DIY projects not just for the money-saving benefits, but also because you need something productive to do during your downtime.
For instance, you might decide you want to learn how to take care of your car’s engine. While you may not be able to do certain things if you’re not a certified mechanic, an enthusiastic amateur can handle lots of routine maintenance tasks. This will prevent you from taking your car to a mechanic for every little thing it needs.
Keith Schulz Garage is there for jobs you can’t handle on your own, but if your car’s engine needs basic maintenance, you can probably learn how to do that. Let’s talk about some tips you should keep in mind if this is something that appeals to you.
Watching Videos Helps
Let’s say you own a car, but you don’t know much about it. That’s okay, though, because you’re eager to learn. You feel like you’ve built enough birdhouses and completed enough basic plumbing tasks to move on to some car engine maintenance DIY projects.
Much like any other at-home do-it-yourself job, YouTube can be a valuable resource. There are new videos posted there every day. It is almost a certainty that you can find one having to do with the aspect of car engine maintenance in which you are interested.
Watching a video will get you on the right track. You might even watch multiple videos on the same topic if you feel like the first one did not cover it sufficiently.
Mastering OBD-II Scanners
Most people do not know what an OBD-II scanner is, but you may want to buy one. Essentially, it is a diagnostic instrument that you can use to figure out what a car error code means.
If you see one of these error codes on your dashboard, there’s no cause for alarm. It is probably because of something relatively minor. By using the OBD-II scanner, you can determine exactly what it is that’s happening with your vehicle.
You can plug it into your car’s port in most cases. Once you know what the error code means, you can decide whether you want to fix the problem yourself or call in the pros.
Research What Sets Your Vehicle Apart
There are universalities that can be applied to every vehicle’s engine. However, there are also frequently crucial distinctions that set each one apart.
You can research your particular vehicle model and its engine before you start your new DIY hobby. Doing so can give you a base of information that should be helpful when the time comes for you to try some car-related projects.
Follow the Recommended Maintenance Schedule
There is always a recommended maintenance schedule you should follow when doing maintenance on your car’s engine. This is part of what you will be looking for when you read the manual.
The recommended maintenance schedule can be applied to your entire car, not just the engine. It will include checking your tire pressure, checking the fluid levels, inspecting the hoses and belts, etc. If you get in the habit of doing these things, and you know what to look for, you can often identify a problem before it causes a breakdown.
It Is Always a Great Idea to Have Someone More Experienced There
If you do not know much about cars and their engines yet, it’s always a sound idea to have someone there who knows more. Maybe you have an uncle or cousin who knows a lot about cars. Failing that, perhaps you have a friend, coworker, neighbor, etc.
If you have someone more experienced there when you start to tinker with your car’s engine for the first time, it makes it a lot less likely you will make a costly mistake.
Practice Makes Perfect
You will probably feel out of your element the first time you start to do maintenance on your car’s engine, even if you have watched some videos. YouTube has a way of making everything look easy. Something as simple as checking your vehicle’s tire pressure can become difficult if you’ve never done it before, though.
Remember that just because something is not easy the first time, that does not mean it will stay that way. The more you do it, the more likely it will become easier for you.
Track the Timetable in a Way You’ll Pay Attention To
You should also learn about the right timetable for each bit of engine maintenance you are planning to perform. Some of these routine checks need to happen when the vehicle hits a certain threshold of miles that you have driven it. Others might be attached to other milestones.
Try to write down the timetable and stick to it. You can use an old-fashioned paper calendar, an app on your phone, or whatever other method you’d prefer.
A Simple Cleaning Can Work Wonders
Sometimes, you might be in a situation where you need to leave the vehicle outside a lot. Maybe you don’t have a garage, or someone else in your family is using it.
That means your car will be subject to the elements. Cleaning the engine regularly with a dry cloth can work wonders. That can get grease, dirt, and other grime out of it.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take It to the Pros if You Feel You’re Out of Your Element
If you ever reach a point in your DIY project where you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, there is no shame in taking the vehicle to a certified mechanic instead. Doing so is against the whole DIY ethos, but you don’t want to make a mistake because you tackled a project that was too ambitious for you.
