Must-Have Tools For Home Auto Maintenance - AllCarIndex
The average cost of a car service can range anywhere from $185 to $2,225 depending on a variety of factors , such as the make and model of your car, type of service you need, and the mechanic that you use. However, if you're knowledgeable, you can easily save money and help to keep your car running in top condition by doing some simple maintenance in your own home garage, such as changing the oil or checking the tyre pressure of your vehicle. With that in mind, here are some of the top must have tools for at-home auto maintenance.
The basics
Before doing any sort of maintenance on your car, it's important to ensure that you have the basics on hand. For instance, a drip tray can keep your garage floor clean when changing the oil, and a set of wrenches, screwdrivers, and sockets can come in handy for a number of things as well. Additionally, it's always a good idea to have disposable gloves on hand as well, as they can easily be worn and thrown away when doing especially dirty jobs. However, for those who already have the basics and some background with working on their car, expanding the toolbox a bit can also be of benefit when working with certain aspects, such as the engine.
One advanced tool that not everyone may be aware of is a borescope. A borescope is an instrument that allows you to see parts of the car that you wouldn't otherwise be able to, making it extremely efficient in being able to visually inspect certain parts of a vehicle, such as the engine. Not only can this make things easier to see and inspect, but it can give you a better idea as to what's going on, and as to whether or not you need to get a professional mechanic involved - such as if the check engine light is on . If you don't already have a borescope and find yourself in need of one, check out SPI borescopes for a wide variety of options that can align with your needs.
Tire pressure gauge
The proper tyre pressure is a must no matter what you're driving, as the right amount of air pressure helps to correctly distribute the weight of your vehicle. If not at the appropriate levels, you can potentially experience vehicle handling issues. For instance, under-inflated tyres can lead to a decrease in handling and grip levels , which can become dangerous when out on the road. With that in mind, it's a necessity to check out your tyre's air pressure from time to time and keep them maintained at the proper levels for your vehicle (which can be found on the tyre pressure placard).
However, instead of taking your car straight to the mechanic to do so, you can easily check your tyre pressure from home with a tyre pressure gauge. A tyre pressure gauge can allow you to easily check your tyre's air pressure by unscrewing the tyre's valve cap and holding the gauge against it, thus giving you a reading of the current pressure, and allowing you to add air accordingly.
Oil filter wrench
Changing your own oil can save you a lot of money in the long run, as it needs to be done on a regular basis to keep your vehicle running smoothly. That being said, while having your basic wrenches is a must, having an oil filter wrench can become just as useful when changing your vehicle's oil. This is because your vehicle's oil filter also needs to be changed from time to time, as its purpose is to keep the oil clean and prevent impurities from running through your engine (which would in turn cause damage). The oil filter wrench is a specialised tool that can help you to easily remove the filter - though how to specifically use it varies as there are a number of different kinds of oil filter wrenches out there.
Taking your car to the mechanic can be anxiety inducing, especially when it comes to how much it'll wind up costing. However, by doing some simple maintenance - such as changing your car's oil or checking the tyre pressure on your own at home, you can easily save some money in the long run.