To keep your car in good working order, you have to do a little work. This is the car maintenance you can do yourself to keep things moving.

 

You've filled up your car's gas tank and squeegeed off the windshield -- is that it?

Most car owners can feel at a loss when it comes to maintaining their vehicles. Cars have gotten a lot more advanced in recent years. So, it makes sense that we let a professional take care of every job, no matter how small.

But, relying on mechanics for everything can get real expensive fast.

There are still plenty of maintenance and repair jobs you can take on for yourself that aren't nearly as time-consuming or scary as they sound.

Here is some car maintenance you can do yourself without having to undergo training as a professional mechanic.

Want to get your car looking like new inside and out without breaking the bank? Detail it yourself!

Detailing your car is essentially deep cleaning it. And, while detailing can require a few extra tools, it can go a long way in keeping your car healthy for the duration of your vehicle's life.

Start by giving your car a regular wash to get all of the dirt off of it, and then go in for the small stuff. These extra jobs can include buffing your headlights, scrubbing out your grill and conditioning your tires.

You should also wax your car to protect the paint and keep it looking clean longer.

Once you've finished the outside of your car, then it's time to focus on the inside.

Interior detailing includes washing your mats, cleaning your upholstery, and cleaning the windows

If you've noticed your wipers leaving streaks that do more harm than good, then it's probably time to replace them.

Every different make and model uses different wipers, so you'll need to either consult your car's manual to determine which wipers you need to get.

When in doubt, a specialist at your local automotive store will be able to point you in the right direction.

Installing new wipers can also vary from car to car. Fortunately, most new wipers come with explicit instructions on how to attach your new set of blades.

Wiper fluid is instrumental in ridding your windshield of a fresh bug carcass or for clearing up some cloudy glass. And, while you use it almost every day, you may not know what to do when your wiper fluid suddenly runs dry.

Instead of waiting for your next oil change to freshen up your supply of wiper fluid, why not fill it up yourself?

You can find wiper fluid pretty much anywhere that sells even the most basic automotive supplies -- even gas stations carry the stuff!

Consult your car's manual to find where its wiper fluid reservoir is, pop your hood, and you're good to go.

For all of your car's fluid needs, wiper or otherwise, you can visit Peak C&I to find everything you need to keep your car running at its best.

Why wait for a flat to check your car's tire pressure?

Topping off your tires regularly is a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your car's mileage, and keep your vehicle running at it's best.

There should be a chart directly inside the driver's door of your car that tells you how full your tires should be.

If this table is gone or covered up for some reason, you can always search your car's make, model and year to find out how full you need to make your tires.

If you need to drive to a gas station to fill up your tires, then you'll need to do a little math. If your tires are hot, then a good rule of thumb is to add roughly 4psi to the recommended tire pressure for your car.

You don't need to go running to the mechanic for every little thing, there are plenty of things you can do on your own to maintain the health of your vehicle.

Now that you know car maintenance you can do yourself, it's time to get out there and start getting your ride in shape.

Looking for a few more tips on maintaining or repairing your car? We can help.

We have dozens of articles to help you learn how to get the most out of your vehicle. Check them out today!