How to Master Car Maintenance: 5 Easy DIY Tips Every Car Owner Should Know!

Car maintenance becomes easier once you know what to do to keep your vehicle in working condition. The guide below includes five easy DIY tips you can use to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape so it stays on the road longer. Rely on the scent experts at Drift to complement your tuned-up ride with the longest-lasting car air freshener available in several sumptuous scents.

Why is Car Maintenance Important?

Maintaining your vehicle means more than just being able to walk out to your car in the morning and start it up without fail. Cars require routine maintenance to function properly, especially as they begin to rack up the miles. Here are some of the basic benefits of maintaining your vehicle properly:

• Improves your and your passengers’ safety

• Ensures optimal performance 

• Maintains reliability

• Protects the environment

• Saves money long-term 

• Extends the vehicle’s working life

However, vehicle maintenance is often a balance: there are certain tasks you can easily do yourself and others that are best left to the professionals. The five tips below are easy enough for most drivers to complete without breaking a sweat. Our bonus DIY hack is even more effortless—stay tuned to find out what it is and how you can maintain your vehicle without even being near it. 

5 Easy DIY Tips Every Car Owner Should Know

You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to know how to maintain your vehicle. Instead, use the five easy DIY tips listed below to cover the basics. If your car requires further attention, your local mechanic can help you diagnose more complex issues. 

1. Inspect Wiper Blades 

Every time you fuel up at the pump, inspect your wiper blades to ensure the rubber blade is intact and still attached to the main blade structure. It’s also a good idea to wipe the rubber down with washer fluid to remove any dirt or debris that could scratch your windshield. Don’t forget your rear wiper blade if your car has one, too! 

If your wiper blades streak when you use them or the rubber is cracked or peeling off, it’s best to replace them as soon as possible. Most wiper blades last about a year under normal operating conditions, but may last longer if you don’t drive as much. You can buy a pair of new wiper blades at your local auto parts store and install them yourself, or have the counterperson install them for you. 

2. Check the Tire Pressure

Most modern vehicles come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that uses sensors to measure your car’s tire pressures in real time. While this can make keeping an eye on the pressures easier than checking them manually, knowing how to gauge tire pressure yourself can prove useful if you ever own a vehicle without a TPMS. It’s also a good idea to visually inspect all four tires for punctures or damage. 

3. Replace the Engine Air Filter

Your car has two air filters: one for the engine and another for the cabin. The cabin filter is a bit harder to change out than the engine air filter, which is typically located on either the driver’s or passenger’s side of the engine bay. You should replace the engine air filter every six months to a year, depending on how far and often you drive, the climate, and the time of year. 

For example, consider changing the engine air filter after the spring season, as the pollen that flies through the air will start to clog up the filter and could impact engine performance. The same could be said for autumn, when crushed leaves and other plant debris can cause similar issues. You can also invest in a reusable air filter if you don’t want to keep extra disposable air filters on hand. 

4. Verify Fluid Levels

Brake fluid, power steering fluid, oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid all help your vehicle perform when on the road. Verifying these fluids are above the fill line keeps your car in proper working condition, especially the oil, coolant, and brake fluid. If you’re unsure where the corresponding reservoirs are for these vital fluids, check your owner’s manual. 

Verifying fluid levels requires parking your vehicle on level ground and visually inspecting each reservoir to ensure there’s enough fluid in the system. The one exception is engine oil, which requires visually evaluating the dipstick to determine the oil level. If any fluids are low, top them off and watch for leaks. 

5. Practice Changing a Tire

Changing a tire may not necessarily be a typical maintenance interval, but it’s an essential DIY skill to know if you own a vehicle. There are countless videos online that you can watch to learn the process, which involves jacking up the car, removing the original wheel, replacing it with the spare, and then lowering the car. These steps are much easier said than done, but it’s a good skill to have, especially if you’re stranded outside of cell phone service—and AAA—range.

Bonus DIY Hack: Longest-Lasting Car Air Fresheners

Keeping your car smelling fresh is one of the best DIY hacks for maintaining your vehicle long-term. Drift makes it easy to infuse your car’s interior with sumptuous scents designed to create a memorable and comforting ambiance. Drift premium car fresheners last for up to 30 days or more, and are available in the following scents:

• Pine

• Teak

• Amber

• Cabana

• Grove

• Open Air 

What’s more, these luxury car fresheners are sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for pets and children. The sustainably sourced alder wood, organic stone, and alloy metal in Drift’s Wood, Stone, and Metal car fresheners are infused with essential and fragrance oil blends. Drift’s car fresheners are always free from phthalates, parabens, mineral oils, DEA, formaldehyde, petroleum, propylene, dichlorobenzene, and other harsh chemicals. 

Maintain Your Car All Year With Premium Drift Car Fresheners

Routine car maintenance is always less of a hassle with a premium Drift car freshener to enjoy on your next drive. Join the Scent of the Month Club to explore seasonal scents every month, all sent straight to your doorstep. While you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications about our latest product releases and limited-edition scents.