Servicing Your Own Car: What Is Worth Doing

AUTOMOTIVE · GLOBAL

Servicing Your Own Car: What Is Worth Doing

The jobs that are straightforward, what to leave alone, parts quality and records

Home servicing saves money and works when you are honest about which jobs are simple and which are safety-critical.

Straightforward jobs

Air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs on most petrol engines, wiper blades, bulbs, battery and topping up fluids. These need basic tools and are well documented for almost every model.

An oil and filter change is within reach with ramps or axle stands, and the disposal of the old oil must go to a recycling centre rather than a drain.

Spark plugs specifically

Use the exact specification the manufacturer lists, including the heat range and the gap. Torque them to the stated figure rather than guessing, since overtightening strips aluminium heads and undertightening causes misfires.

Change them as a set and check the old ones — their colour and condition tell you a great deal about how the engine is running.

What to leave alone

Brakes, suspension, steering, airbags, timing belts and anything requiring the car to be supported for long periods. The consequences of getting these wrong are severe.

Never work under a car supported only by a jack.

Parts quality

Original equipment parts and reputable aftermarket brands both work. Very cheap unbranded parts for filters, plugs and brakes are a false economy, and counterfeit parts are a known problem in some categories.

Buy from established suppliers and check part numbers against your vehicle identification number rather than a model name.

Keep records

Note the date, mileage and part numbers for everything. A documented history is worth real money at resale, and self-servicing with receipts is accepted by most buyers.

Working safely

Axle stands on level solid ground, wheels chocked, handbrake on and the car in gear. Let the engine cool before touching the exhaust or opening the cooling system, since hot coolant is under pressure.

Disconnect the battery negative before electrical work, and wear eye protection under a car.

Diagnostics

An inexpensive OBD reader tells you what a warning light actually means, which frequently turns an alarming dashboard into a simple sensor replacement. It does not replace a proper diagnosis for anything complex.

Fluids and intervals

Use the oil grade and specification the manufacturer lists rather than a general recommendation, since modern engines are specific about it. Coolant and brake fluid both have change intervals that are frequently ignored.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and affects braking. It is a cheap job with real consequences.

Warranty

Check what your warranty requires, since some need servicing to a schedule with specified parts.

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