If you’re a driver and you happen to drive a lot and regularly, you probably already know the ins and outs of vehicle ownership and how to tackle some of the minor problems.
For example, changing a flat tire in the middle of nowhere or regularly changing oil in your motor shouldn’t be that much of a problem for a weathered driver – as long as you have the tires and the oil ready when you need them.
That said, even the most experienced drivers out there can’t know it all, and having some tricks up your sleeve for tackling minor problems can be a real advantage if you don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive car mechanics. So, in this article, we’ll share with you a couple of useful tips that every driver can benefit from. As you will see, most of these relate to saving money and performing minor patchwork and fixes, so you don’t have to worry about spending too much money on these.
Here’s the deal.
Tire Replacement Checkup
While almost every driver, no matter how inexperienced has some idea that tires don’t last forever and need to be changed now and again, it can sometimes be tough to tell if you need a new set yet – especially if the tires don’t appear to show signs of wear ‘n’ tear as they are. Indeed, you’ll probably learn about the different types and sizes of tire in your driving lessons, as pneumatics represent an important part of any car.
So, if you’re not sure at what stage you tires currently are, here’s an easy way to determine what’s going on with your car’s pneumatics. What you do is take a small coin and insert it in one of the grooves of the tire. Now, the recommended groove depth should be about 1/16 inches, so if it’s less than that, that’s a signal that you need to change your tires. (Or, it could be that you only need to change that particular tire and the other ones are fine.)
Windshield De-Icing
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best, and the same goes for defrosting various parts of your car’s exterior during the winter.
The thing is, if you live in an area that’s well-known for its rough winters, you can expect to see a frozen windshield and even a frozen lock come the first wave of cold weather. Now, while you can buy some expensive defroster or the other, here’s a solution that’s just as effective and it doesn’t cost pretty much anything – mix some vinegar with water and use that to treat the layer of ice on your windshield.
It will do wonders and the only price you have to worry about would be the vinegar, which costs peanuts.
Gas Tank Dashboard Indicator
Now, this one may be a bit redundant for most people, but in case you’re ever in a situation to drive someone else’s car or take a rent-a-car vehicle, you might want to know where the fuel tank is in it.
The thing is, most newer cars will have the fuel tank symbol on the dashboard, so you can know where the fuel gauge is. That said, what most people don’t notice is that there’s usually also an arrow pointing in the direction of the fuel tank (that is – either left or right), so if you want to know on what side of the vehicle the fuel cap is, check the symbol and look for that little arrow.
Toothpaste Headlight Hack
Surprisingly enough, one of the cheapest and easiest ways to clean your headlights would be to take a tube of toothpaste (you don’t have to use all of it, of course) and pour it onto the headlights.
Then take a clean rag and a bit of water and start rubbing the toothpaste into the headlight. You want to rub it in well, so you may want to use a toothbrush as well for the task. Once the layer has settled, simply sprinkle some water on it and then start removing it with the rag.
Nail Polish Windshield & Window Patch
Here’s a similar suggestion to the previous one – this time, however, it’s fixing car windows and windshields and the thing to use is nail polish.
All you have to do is apply some of it on the window in question, and that should be enough to prevent the chip from spreading. Note, though, that this can only be a solution for smaller windshield and window chips, as the larger ones would probably require a more thorough patching job.
All in all, while proper maintenance is required for your car to function well at all times, having a couple of tricks up your sleeve can make your life easier when it comes to minor fixes and other driving-related situations out there on the road.
