Auto Parts - info You require To Know Before You Get Any Car Parts
By hooking your 12v batteries together in a Parallel configuration (Pos. to Pos. and Neg. to Neg.) you can tie together as many batteries as you like and still have a 12v system. With car parts com near me placed in the Pos. cable coming from your van battery and going to your house batteries so that it is energized only when the ignition switch is in the on position your house batteries will be charged when your motor is running and completely separate of your vehicle electrical system when the motor is not running.
Replace the plug. You will only need to get this snug. Overtightening the plug can cause it to strip the threads in the oil pan. This will require another trip to the auto parts store near me to buy an oversized plug to replace the one that you used to ruin the threads. Make sure to give the plug and area around it one last cleaning before leaving it behind. Getting rid of all of the residual oil will allow you to check for leaks easier at the end of the oil change.
Next you will need to get under the car in order to place the belt on the crankshaft. You should be able to get underneath the car without the use of jacks or jack stands. However, if you must lift the car make sure to do some on a level surface with the parking brake engaged.
You want to use a thinner grade of oil when it is cold out. If you use a single grade of oil you should replace the oil with a winter grade. You may not need to make this adjustment if the type of oil you are using is a multi-grade oil. Check with your car dealer or with your mechanic or auto parts near me. They can tell you if you should make the change.
Manual Transmission - If you're going to get a car consider getting a manual transmission only if you are a very astute driver who understands cars and the physics of them quite well. It used to be a huge fuel advantage to drive a manual but most of the automatic transmissions in newer cars are very fuel efficient and have almost offset the advantage that manuals used to enjoy. No matter what transmission you have you should be speeding up for oncoming hills whenever possible (don't wait to get into the hill before accelerating) and easing off on the pedal as you come down the other side to avoid brake wear and losing inertia.
You need to check your tires on a regular basis. This includes making sure your tire pressure is at an acceptable level. Tire pressure doesn't sound exciting, but it is necessary for proper braking and cornering. Tire pressure can also affect your gas mileage. Pick up a tire pressure gauge at your local auto store near me and use it once a month. It's a cheap and easy way to keep your car safe.
Got a missing or broken wheel stud? Nothing easier to fix. You won't need a garage for this one. Have a replacement lug stud ready. Pop the wheel off and using a large hammer, I use a 42 ounce ball pean, whap that broken stud with a good amount of force. It helps if you can get a lug nut threaded on as this provides a larger surface for the hammer to strike upon. That stud will pop out of it's hole on about the second or third strike.
Once you have gotten your car ready for the cold, snow, ice and wind that winter brings, it's time to stock it with all the items you will need to help you get through them. Those items include an ice scraper, a snow brush and small snow shovel, bag of sand or cat litter, road flares, jumper cables, blanket, etc.
Replace the plug. You will only need to get this snug. Overtightening the plug can cause it to strip the threads in the oil pan. This will require another trip to the auto parts store near me to buy an oversized plug to replace the one that you used to ruin the threads. Make sure to give the plug and area around it one last cleaning before leaving it behind. Getting rid of all of the residual oil will allow you to check for leaks easier at the end of the oil change.
Next you will need to get under the car in order to place the belt on the crankshaft. You should be able to get underneath the car without the use of jacks or jack stands. However, if you must lift the car make sure to do some on a level surface with the parking brake engaged.
You want to use a thinner grade of oil when it is cold out. If you use a single grade of oil you should replace the oil with a winter grade. You may not need to make this adjustment if the type of oil you are using is a multi-grade oil. Check with your car dealer or with your mechanic or auto parts near me. They can tell you if you should make the change.
Manual Transmission - If you're going to get a car consider getting a manual transmission only if you are a very astute driver who understands cars and the physics of them quite well. It used to be a huge fuel advantage to drive a manual but most of the automatic transmissions in newer cars are very fuel efficient and have almost offset the advantage that manuals used to enjoy. No matter what transmission you have you should be speeding up for oncoming hills whenever possible (don't wait to get into the hill before accelerating) and easing off on the pedal as you come down the other side to avoid brake wear and losing inertia.
You need to check your tires on a regular basis. This includes making sure your tire pressure is at an acceptable level. Tire pressure doesn't sound exciting, but it is necessary for proper braking and cornering. Tire pressure can also affect your gas mileage. Pick up a tire pressure gauge at your local auto store near me and use it once a month. It's a cheap and easy way to keep your car safe.
Got a missing or broken wheel stud? Nothing easier to fix. You won't need a garage for this one. Have a replacement lug stud ready. Pop the wheel off and using a large hammer, I use a 42 ounce ball pean, whap that broken stud with a good amount of force. It helps if you can get a lug nut threaded on as this provides a larger surface for the hammer to strike upon. That stud will pop out of it's hole on about the second or third strike.
Once you have gotten your car ready for the cold, snow, ice and wind that winter brings, it's time to stock it with all the items you will need to help you get through them. Those items include an ice scraper, a snow brush and small snow shovel, bag of sand or cat litter, road flares, jumper cables, blanket, etc.
