7 DIY Car Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid

DIY Don’ts

While going to the mechanic can be one of the most classic ways to blow money that there is, that doesn’t mean it’s always unnecessary. Mechanics have a lot of things you don’t have: training, for one. If you’re going DIY for car maintenance, you want to make sure you know what you’re doing. The next time you work on your car, do whatever you can to avoid these seven damning mistakes.

Mechanic works on car in his home garage — FatCamera/istockphoto

Overestimating Your Skill

Let’s start here. Are you sure you can do this? Seriously, though. There are a lot of things best left to pros and you’re not here to make things worsefor your car. Unless you truly know what you’re doing or you’re going for some incredibly minor maintenance, maybe just hire somebody.

Mechanic hand checking and fixing a broken car in car service garage — standret/istockphoto

Ignoring the Right Materials and Gear

Skill is skill, and knowledge is knowledge, but no matter how much of that stuff you have, you can’t do anything without the right equipment. Use the right tools. Wear the right safety gear. Install the right parts.

Man fixing his car engine — Morsa Images/istockphoto

Trying to Memorize Parts

Unless you have a super mind, it will get confusing when you start taking things apart. This is what a label machine is for, or at the very least, this is what Post-Its are for.

Lie: Old Part? What Old Part? — jumaydesigns/istockphoto

Buying Cheap Parts

Usually we’re about being frugal, but sometimes, third party parts and accessories just don’t work as well as the name-brand stuff. The reason the dealership wants to use those more expensive parts? Probably because they’re better, and that’s something your car and your safety deserve.

Mechanic lying down and working under car at auto service garage. Technician vehicle maintenance and checking under car at automotive motor garage. — kckate16/istockphoto

Working Unsafely

You jacked up your car in the correct spot, right? It’s not going to fall down on top of you or anything? And you’re wearing gloves and goggles, yeah? Not touching hot radiators and hot oil with your hands, no? These things are imperative.

Pouring oil to car engine. Fresh motor oil poured during an oil change to a car — Phynart Studio/istockphoto

Using the Wrong Fluids

Before you permanently damage your car, make sure you know what you’re pouring into it. Get the correct coolant, buy the proper oil, and only dump water into the one tube you’re supposed to.

Senior man driver stopped in the street for a car breakdown, the hood open waiting for roadside assistance. Looking at the instruction booklet — lucigerma/istockphoto

Passing Over the Owner’s Manual

It doesn’t matter what the guy with the soul patch on YouTube says. Your owner’s manual is the best place to start when it comes to your car, and if you’re doing something the owner’s manual specifically says not to, you’re making a huge mistake. Don’t be the person who needs to get a new car because you ignored the instructions.