Car Care Facts
A recent survey conducted by Cooper Tires found that American car owners aren’t as confident in their ability to take care of their vehicle as they thought. Here are some statistics from their survey:- 54 percent of car owners feel intimidated when they need to deal with a mechanic
- 4 in 10 Americans avoid taking their car in to get repaired due to financial reasons
- 19 percent of Americans are confident they pay a fair price for service done by a mechanic
- 41 percent of Americans couldn’t identify a car’s engine when given a picture of what’s under the hood
- 47 percent were extremely confident in being able to jump start their car
- 33 percent were extremely confident in being able to change the oil
- 39 percent were extremely confident they could change a flat tire
Car Maintenance
How can you better understand basic car maintenance? Do some research, and try it out at home with someone who’s familiar with the tasks. Make sure you get to know your vehicle by performing the six-point car check. While doing this, you’ll recognize what’s not normal for your vehicle and what to fix.
There are a number of tasks you can perform without taking your car to a mechanic and spending the extra money. Things such as replacing air filters, checking the tire pressure, and changing or topping off the oil/fluids can be done in your garage for minimal cost. The trick to this is knowing what needs to be done, and where and how to do it.
The Bottom Line
It takes time to fully understand what goes on under the hood of your car. Don’t be afraid to ask a trusted mechanic questions – there are some things you can’t do on your own. But don’t hold off on on a repair. You can make a small problem even worse by not fixing it.