Top Auto Repair Tips Straight From The Experts

Your car is important to you, and you need to take care of it. You might not know enough about cars to feel comfortable servicing small repairs. If this is true, then you have found a great article on how you can do some simple car maintenance.

Regularly check your radiator's performance. Allow your car to run for a bit and then turn it off and pop open the hood. You never want to open up the radiator if your car is still running. Use a dipstick to check the fluid levels, and always add the correct amount of water to your coolant before adding it to your tank.

You don't always need a repair-person for your car troubles. Many situations can be self-remedied. Try troubleshooting the issue on the Internet or talk to your friends to see if they have an idea of what could be wrong with your vehicle. If the repair isn't too difficult, you might be able to save money by doing it yourself.

Keeping your car washed will help prevent rust. All cars will eventually rust out, but you can delay the process considerably by making sure any salt or chemicals are washed off as soon as possible. Use a good wax to protect your paint job as much as possible.

Prior to paying for any repairs you've had done, you should go on a drive to figure out if it was really fixed. A lot of people forget to test drive their vehicle and pay for repairs that did not really fix their problem.

Be aware of a mechanic who makes unneeded repairs to your car. All reputable mechanics will notify you before doing any repairs and will inform you of any parts that could require repairs in the immediate future. Don't go back to mechanics who made unneeded repairs.

OEM parts should be asked for. These means they are parts that come directly from the manufacturer. Generic parts may cost less, but they are not as good. What is a cheap option now could be an expensive option later.

Inspect your vehicle to figure out what is wrong before taking it to an auto shop. A bit of money can be saved in this way, and you may stay away from fraudulent people. Some mechanics are dishonest and will say the problem is more serious than it actually is.

Since your car is so important, taking care of it is crucial. Even if you only learn to do a few easy maintenance tasks, you can save a lot compared to what a mechanic would charge you. Take these tips to heart, and pull this article back out whenever you need to.