In the 2014 AutoPartsWarehouse.com DIY Auto Repair Survey, 33% of respondents said they save over $1,000 each year by doing their own car repairs and maintenance. Additionally, 29% of respondents said they save at least $500 annually.
When it comes to money-saving home DIY projects, knowing a few things about your vehicle and how it works can literally pay off. If you’ve been considering taking on DIY maintenance and repair tasks, here are three simple DIY car tasks anyone can learn and complete in your garage.
Paint Chips and Scratches
Although it seems like minor damage, getting paint scratches and chips repaired professionally can add up quickly. In fact, when handled at a body shop, minor scuffs start at around $50-$70 to get fixed.
Whereas actual scratches to the paint can cost anywhere between $400-$1,500 to fix, depending on the depth of the scratch (as reported on Quora). Rather than paying top dollar for what is essentially a free repair, experts from AutomotiveTouchup.com reviews say you can easily fix paint scratches at home.
To touch up small areas of missing vehicle paint, you can pick up DIY supplies (e.g. color-matched paint, tools) by themselves, or as a kit. These vehicle paint repair products almost always come with instructions you can follow, which will help yield exceptional results.
Oil Changes
Depending on the oil you use, professionals recommend getting an oil change every 5,000 miles or so. Rather than spending $30-$70 each time you need an oil change, you can learn this car maintenance task at home.
On average, doing your own oil changes can cost you $20 or less (not including the cost of the equipment you need to perform the work). Changing the oil on your vehicle is basically as simple as lifting your vehicle, draining and recycling the dirty oil, and putting new oil in the appropriate chamber.
Experts from Family Handyman state that even for individuals who are new to doing oil changes, it usually takes only 20 minutes to complete. In addition to saving money, you can also expect to save the time of driving to the mechanic and waiting for your car to be ready.
Inspect your Tires
Whether your low tire pressure light comes on, or it has been a while since you’ve replaced your tires, there are numerous reasons for needing a tire inspection. Instead of going to the car repair shop right away, you can learn a few essential details that will help you avoid unnecessary visits.
The first is being able to assess your tire pressure and identify the cause of low air pressure. By using a digital or manual tire pressure gauge, you can measure and compare the levels in each tire against your manufacturer’s recommendations.
Also, you can use a penny to measure tire tread. TireRack.com states that “if part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32″ of tread depth remaining.”
Even if you’ve never worked on a vehicle in your life, it is incredibly easy to learn and utilize DIY car maintenance and repair skills. If you encounter an issue with your car anytime, make it a point first to see if you can handle the work, rather than scheduling a service appointment.
Whatever kind of car you have, these simple DIY car tasks anyone can learn are essential in extending the lifetime of your car.
