#car tips

1951 Studebaker Fastback Woody by Hill's Rod & Custom

if you have a car in your possession and youre its primary operator and caretaker, here are some things you should know:

DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. PEOPLE LOVE YOU. ASSUME EVERYONE ON THE ROAD IS OUT TO KILL YOU. PAY ATTENTION. DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. we can all tell when youre doing it and its super annoying.

check the oil. check the oil check the oil check the oil. your engine has a dipstick that you pull out to check. park your car on level ground and shut it off. pull the tab of the dipstick out, wipe it off with a rag, stick it back in and pull it out again. the level should be above the first dot/line. have an oil change (drain the old oil, replace the filter, refill with new oil) either every 3 months or every 4-6k miles, whichever comes first.

the oil type your car takes should be listed either on its oil refill cap or on a sticker under the hood. if its not listed, ask your mechanic or the auto parts store cashier. be careful when looking it up online because AI answers WILL mislead you. do not mix oil types in your engine. try to maintain the same class of oil (i use high mileage synthetic blend 5w-30, for example. this means i will always use synthetic blend oil.)

do not overfill or underfill your oil. add a little bit at a time, like half a quart, and then check the dipstick again. do not put any fluids in any areas that are not specified by their caps. never put water in your fuel tank.

pay attention to the dashboard lights. do not ignore a check engine light. you can have these codes read for Free at an auto parts store, just ask the cashier nicely if they can check it out for you. they will plug a code reader into your dashboard and tell you what it says. this might clear the code, so make note of it and have it addressed with a trusted mechanic.

try not to let your fuel level get completely empty. this risks letting air gaps into the system or sucking up sediment that might be in the bottom of your tank. you cannot always trust the fuel gauge on your dashboard, especially in an older car. try to pay attention to how much mileage you can get out of a single tank before it gets to below a quarter full.

the size of your car's gas tank does not mean how much gas you will have to get every time. for example, my 99 Corolla had an 11 gallon tank, but i never filled up more than about 9 gallons at a time before the needle was edging close to E.

check your car's battery on occasion. make sure the connections are clean and free of leaky battery acid or dirt. disconnect the battery before working with ANY of your car's wiring, like when installing a new radio or speakers.

check to make sure your tires are uniform and treaded. the treads should rise at least 3 mm above the tire (you should be able to put a penny between them and block abe lincolns chin). do not use winter tires all year round. do not continue driving on any tire that is bulging, bald, leaking, or flat.

pay attention to the sounds your car makes. drive without music on, drive with the windows down occasionally to listen closely. does it whine when you press the gas? (power steering lines) does the back end squeak or thunk when you go over speed bumps? (struts, control arms, shocks) does something make a high pitched squeal when you start the car, or when you turn out of a parking space? (belts) do you hear a whirring sound when you get around 30 mph, almost like a plane taking off? (wheel bearing and holy shit if you hear that sound drive Slowly to a mechanic IMMEDIATELY if your wheel bearing is worn that means your wheel is About to fall off)

pay attention to the feelings of driving. is the brake pedal really squishy, or really responsive? does your speed plateau when you press the gas all the way down? does the car jump or rock when it shifts? do you have to turn the wheel a lot, or a little, around residential turns? the more familiar you are with the feeling of an average day the more youll notice when something becomes Different

Avoid "Quick Lube" places, like the gas station, Jiffy Lube, Firestone, etc. theyre generally fine in a pinch but if you want to keep your car for a long time, try to find a local mechanic you really trust. they will often have access to higher quality parts and more observant employees.

be aware of mechanic scams. an oil change shouldnt cost more than 90-100$, depending on the size of the engine. there is no such thing as headlight fluid. you shouldnt need a new air filter more than once every few years unless you live somewhere really sandy. look up reviews for the business online and see if anyone complains about being charged extra for unnecessary repairs. keep your own log of repairs done on your car so you can backtrack and see what you have already had done, or if the last guy screwed something up.

tire pressure will change with the weather. when it gets really hot outside, the air in your tires will expand, so its okay to let some air out as long as you stay within the recommended pressure for your car. you can find these numbers in the user manual or on stickers on the hood/door. you can refill your tires for a couple dollars at a gas station air pump. keep an air pressure gauge in your car. its the little silver pen-looking thing with the diagonal gasket on the end. try not to lose the caps to the valves on the wheels.

have your tires rotated occasionally. the recommended schedule comes with the tires, but every 6-10k miles is average. you can have it done at the same time as an oil change or every 6 months. your mechanic or tire technician should know the appropriate rotation pattern based on the orientation of your car; front wheel drive and all wheel drive have different rotation patterns. this is to make sure your tires wear down at the same rates and to prevent blowouts.

keep a safety kit in a tub in the trunk of your car. this can include things like emergency flares, reflective triangles, blankets, flashlight + batteries, shelf-stable snacks, water, plastic tubing, matches/lighter, a funnel, a glass breaker, tire leak stopper/plug sealer, spare headlight bulbs, screwdrivers (philips and flatheads), and a ratcheting socket wrench (include sockets sized for things in the engine, like your battery connection points). you never know when you will need these things. make sure the spare tire is where it needs to be, its inflated properly, the wheel will fit the car, and you have a provided jack and tire iron. always loosen/tighten bolts on opposite ends of each other, never clockwise/counterclockwise.

DO NOT store a full gas can in your trunk or anywhere else in the car. for short periods, like a road trip, its not a terrible idea. but make sure to remove it before it overheats back there and bursts or leaks. the same goes for water bottles in the car- replace the water bottle in your emergency kit every year or so.

you CAN change a tire. i believe in you! before driving any long distances, practice changing a tire from the main to the spare and back. try not to drive with the spare for any longer than it takes to get your car to a tire shop.

DONT TEXT AND DRIVE.

i checked reviews and a lot of them mention the compressor failing, so definitely check that it works as soon as you get it so you can replace it with warranty if it doesn't work, but mine has always worked.

this thing also keeps a charge FOREVER. i last charged mine several months ago, and when i went to use it today it still had 79% in it.

This guide is mainly aimed at people who don’t live in conditions where they typically receive snow. I wish I’d written this sooner but I hope it helps somebody out. Some people may disagree with certain points but this is what works for me.

BEFORE YOU DRIVE

- If you have to go somewhere, plan ahead. Please, for the love of God, please DO NOT put warm or hot water on your windshield. Turn your vehicle on the highest heat possible, make sure your defrosters are on. If your car is older or doesn’t have a defrost setting, make sure the heat is set to hit your windshield.

- This ought to be common sense but the more snow/ice you have on your vehicle, the more time it’ll take to thaw out. If you don’t have an ice scraper, you can use a credit card to scrape a fine layer off your windshield. For light snow, you can use a brush or broom or even a squeegee to get the excess off.

- Keep your windshield and wipers clear! It’s so dangerous to drive around with snow or ice caked on your glass. If your blades are stuck or there is ice on them (which can inhibit them from properly cleaning your windshield), I suggest getting out of the car, lifting the blade, and letting it fall so it hits the windshield and breaks the ice. NOTE: This can damage your windshield if you are very rough. Do not SLAM your wiper blades down, just let its momentum break the ice. You may have to do this a few times.

- Be aware of having a lot of snow caked around and on top of your vehicle. In Michigan, at least, you’re supposed to be able to see your license plate. It may vary from state to state. If you have snow on the sides of your vehicle, be sure to clear off your lights. It’s so frustrating to be behind someone who didn’t clear off their lights because you may not be able to see when they slow down or signal a turn. There have also been times where snow has been on top of my vehicle and it has shifted forward onto my windshield at a stop. One time, ice chunks fell onto my windshield and my wipers got stuck! Thankfully I was pulling right into work but it can be a potential hazard if it happens somewhere you can’t safely get out.

- I generally don’t like to let my gas tank dip but in the winter I always try to make sure I have over half a tank. This is especially true if you run off diesel! If you’re like me and you like to let your car get nice and toasty before you hop in, this helps ensure you don’t jump into a vehicle and get taken by surprise by your gage being in the red.

- If you don’t normally keep sunglasses in your car, you ought to. Snow is very pretty to look at but on sunny days, it can be downright blinding to try and drive while light scintillates off every white surface and into your retinas. Keep glasses readily available.

ON THE ROAD

- If you aren’t used to driving in the snow or ice, just remember, the speed limit does not mean that’s how fast you should go. If you have four wheel drive, turn it on. If you usually speed, slow it down. Remember that post about pretending to drive your grandma to church while she wears a new dress and holds a crock pot full of chili? Yes. It’s funny, but that’s a good thing to envision while you drive.

- Stopping. In the summer, it’s easy to come to a quick halt. If there’s ice or snow on the road, you may need adjust how you stop. Most people press on the brake and gradually increase pressure until they stop. Well, folks, if the road is bad, you do NOT want to do that. Start slowing down way before you think you should. Don’t slam your breaks, but gently pump them. By that, I mean apply pressure, release, apply pressure. It helps you get a feel for how bad the roads are. If they’re bare and you can see black top, this isn’t necessary, but if you see snow or ice patches and the road is “greasy” (as we tend to say in Michigan), then it’s a good way to safely stop. Plus the flash of red helps drivers behind be aware that they should slow down as well.

- Turning. Use. Your. Blinkers. They’re there for a reason. I personally signal sooner than I should in the winter, especially if the roads are bad, so people behind me can prepare to slow down. My house is on a road where the speed limit is 55 mph. Most speed past (I’m also guilty of that) but to avoid being rear ended, I like to ensure my blinker is on and then I start doing my slow down maneuver so no one hit’s my car. (He’s a black Jeep and his name is Blaise.)

-this one is literally life saving so listen up: clean out your exhaust pipes if they have snow/ice in them! if you don’t, the exhaust could get trapped, travel back into your car, and kill you

-if you don’t have gloves, use socks! oh, also gloves are meant to keep your hands warm, not make them warm. so put them on before you go outside

-if you don’t have a snowbrush for your car, just use a broom. and don’t use a credit card to scrape ice off of your windshield; it won’t get the ice off but will ruin your card. try a dustpan instead

-dress in loose layers- air is a great insulator! that’s why puffer jackets are so popular 

-there’s a phrase up here: cotton kills; i.e. don’t wear cotton in the winter. if it gets wet, it’ll get really cold really fast and in extreme circumstances kill you

-if your power comes on, make sure to boil a lot of water and charge your portable chargers!

-put your windshield wipers up to prevent them from freezing to your windshield- they’ve been known to snap off

-if you don’t have road salt, try cat litter