I grew up with a mechanic for a dad so any time my car made a weird noise or a light started flashing I would just drive five minutes to his shop so he could take a look and tell me to stop being so paranoid. But, now that I am in college and 85 miles away, it isn’t so easy to do that. Here are the answers to your car questions.
1. What do I do when the check engine light comes on?
The check engine light can mean many things, most of the time it is an emission problem but it can sometimes mean more than that. If the check engine light is blinking, it should not be driven and be checked by a qualified shop as soon as possible.
2. How often should I check my oil?
This depends on if your car has conventional or synthetic oil. Conventional oil should be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles while synthetic oil should be changed every 5,000-7,000 miles. Learning to check your own oil is also a valuable skill to learn if you haven’t already!
3. What do I do in an emergency situation (e.g. your battery dies)?
For the average person, the best thing to do is to have an AAA subscription or insurance that includes towing so if and when a problem comes up you can get your car towed to a nearby repair shop.
4. How many miles do I actually have left when my gas light comes on?
The number of miles to empty depends on a lot of factors, such as vehicle type and manufacturer. You normally have a few gallons left when the light comes on but try to fill up as soon as possible. If you constantly drive on empty it can lead to issues with the fuel pump so it’s better not to take any risks!
5. What do I do when the windows start fogging up?
Windows become foggy due to the humidity in the air and the temperature in the car. There is usually a “sweet spot” in the temperature range that will clear the windows- it just takes the effort of finding it.
6. Do cold air intakes really produce a noticeable amount of power?
No, most stock systems exceed airflow requirements for engine size.
7. Should I be changing my own oil or taking it to a mechanic?
This depends on the type of car you have- oil changes on some cars are no big deal but on others, they can be tough due to oil filter placement and the fact that some oil filters require special tools to remove.
8. How do I change a tire?
All if the tools you need should be in the car. However, you have to be careful because the car can slip off of the jack that is supplied with most cars and lead to injuries to both the person changing it and the people around them.
9. How can I get better miles per gallon?
Making sure you have the proper air pressure in your tires and a proper tune-up are key! Synthetic driveline fluids can also help with this in some cars.
Drive safely, collegiettes!