5 quick DIY fixes to save you money

Modern cars have become incredibly complex machines, from turbochargers to hybrids and now the fully electric vehicle, so trying to tackle any sort of maintenance on your own car can be overwhelming… and expensive. But it doesn’t have to be; there are loads of ways to save money by doing small jobs on your own vehicle, saving yourself a trip to the mechanic. Here are a few simple pointers you can follow to help save a few bucks by getting your hands a little dirty.

If you’re unfamiliar with working on your own car, this can sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually surprisingly simple as long as you have the right tools. You’ll need a spanner, an oil-filter removal tool, and a container to catch the old oil. You’ll also need the right oil for your car and a new oil filter; your car’s manual should tell you what you’ll need, and if you’re in doubt, ask the staff at your local car parts store.

The process varies slightly from car to car, but in basic terms, you’ll need to jack up the car, drain the old oil, change the oil filter, and then refill the oil – easy. Yes, your hands will get dirty and you’ll spend a few dollars on tools in the first instance, but over time you’ll save even more by not relying on mechanics to do the job.

Once you master the art of changing your own oil, looking after the rest of the fluids will seem like a walk in the park. Your car has a number of fluids that need to be maintained, from the radiator to the windscreen washer water, and instead of paying someone else to keep these topped up, you can do it yourself.

Again, check your car’s manual for the specific details, but checking the fluids for your washer and brakes is typically as simple as just checking the level in the semi-transparent reservoirs that are under the bonnet. Filling up the windscreen washer fluid with simple tap water is an easy and convenient way to save yourself money next time you think your car needs a service.

This is a simpler, cleaner job and doesn’t require opening the bonnet. But like changing your own oil and fluids, learning how to change your own windscreen wiper blades will save you a lot of money over the life of your vehicle. It can be an expensive extra that your mechanic will charge you for, but you can head to your local auto parts store and grab a fresh set of blades for as little as $20. Most modern cars use a simple ‘click in, click out’ system for their wipers, but your car’s manual will tell you everything you need to know.

Most tyre companies recommend rotating your rubber every 5000km

 to ensure you don’t wear them out prematurely. Rotating them allows more even wear, but you don’t need to go to the tyre centre or mechanic to get this job done.

Depending on what type of car you have – front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive – will change which way you rotate the tyres, so check your car’s manual or ask an expert. But regardless of the car layout, the key premise is to take the rear tyres to the front, as this will help even out the load. You can simply jack the car up, take one side of the tyres off and swap them from front to back and then repeat the process on the other side.

Check the wear pattern while the tyres are off, if there is excessive wear on one side it may suggest your car is out of alignment. Unfortunately doing a wheel alignment isn’t a DIY job but spotting the wear early and getting your car back to optimal condition will likely save you having to buy a new set of tyres.

This is the easiest way to save money on your car because carrying around extra weight will increase your fuel economy. So, make sure you aren’t dragging around unnecessary items or rubbish that is simply dead weight. You can also remove roof racks and other items that may negatively impact your fuel consumption. This also has a safety benefit, as having loose items in the cabin that can be thrown around in a sudden stop or accident is dangerous and something that can be easily fixed with a weekly clean-out.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}