Your oil should be changed every 3,000 to 10,000 miles. Save yourself frequent fees by learning to do it yourself.

You Will Need

* Your car's owner's manual
* Car jack and jack stands
* A catch pan
* A disposable plastic container with a lid
* An oil filter wrench
* A towel
* An open-ended wrench
* A new oil filter
* Motor oil
* A funnel
* And a clean rag or a paper towel

Changing your own oil can be dangerous. If the car is jacked up incorrectly, you can hurt yourself and/or damage the car.

Allow car to cool : Allow the car to cool down completely. To be safe, it’s best to let it sit overnight.

Check owner's manual : Check your owner’s manual to make sure you have the kind and amount of oil your car needs.Make sure the oil you buy is API, or American Petroleum Institute, certified.

Park on level surface : Park the car on a level surface and apply the emergency brake to prevent the car from rolling away. Lack up car : Jack up the car underneath the front wheels at the jack point. If you’re not sure where that is, check your owner’s manual.

Slide jack stand under : When the car is high enough, slide the jack stand under so the weight is supported by it and not the jack.

Slide catch pan : Slide the catch pan underneath your car, right under the engine.

Open drain plug : With the open-ended wrench, open the drain plug underneath the engine by turning it counterclockwise.

Remove plug : Remove the plug with a towel—it will be hot if you didn’t allow your car to cool down long enough—and place it down.

Allow oil to drain : Allow all of the oil to drain out of the car. Screw on drain plug : Screw the drain plug back on.

Pour used oil into container : Pour the used oil from the catch pan into a disposable container with a lid.

Locate oil filter : Open the hood and locate the oil filter, which is usually in the lower half of the engine block.
Turn oil filter : With the oil filter wrench, turn the oil filter counterclockwise.

Remove oil filter : Slowly and carefully remove the oil filter from the car—it contains oil.

Lubricate rubber gasket : Take the new oil filter and notice the little rubber gasket around it. Lubricate that part with a tiny amount of your new oil.

Fill filter w/ fresh oil : Fill the new oil filter with the fresh oil.

Install oil filter by hand : Install the newly filled oil filter by hand, turning it clockwise.

Make sure it’s in securely, but if the filter is screwed in too tightly, it can become damaged.
Jack car higher to remove stand : Jack the car just slightly higher to remove the jack stand, and then lower the car back to the ground and remove the jack.

Take off oil cap : Find the oil cap in the engine and take it off. Most oil caps will be marked with an icon that looks like a pouring Aladdin’s lamp.

Insert funnel & pour oil : Insert the funnel into the engine and pour the proper amount of oil into the funnel.Most cars require 4 to 6 quarts of oil.

Replace cap & start car : Replace the cap on the engine. Start the car and let the engine run for about a minute before turning the car off again.

Find oil dipstick : Find the oil dipstick and pull it out.In most newer cars, the handle off the dipstick is shaped as a cross bar and is painted yellow.

Wipe oil off stick : Wipe off the thin line of oil that remains on the stick using the rag or paper towel. Locate marks : Look at the stick and locate the marks “Add” and “Full.”

Slide dipstick back into slot : Slide the dipstick back into its slot and make sure it’s pushed down all the way. Then pull it out again.

Check oil level : Notice where the line of oil falls on the stick—it should be somewhere between Add and Full. If you need to add more oil, reinsert the funnel into the engine and add a little more. If not, return the dipstick to its proper place.

Close hood & drive : Close your hood and take it for a spin. First stop: an automotive store, to drop off your used oil container and old filter for proper disposal.

Fix those little scratches before they become big rust marks.

You Will Need

* Your car’s VIN number
* Car wash liquid
* Clean cotton cloth
* 1,500 to 2,000 grit sandpaper
* Small paintbrush
* Auto body compound
* Plastic putty knife
* Primer paint
* Touch-up paint

Match paint to VIN : Write down your car’s VIN number (located on the dashboard and on your car’s title) and take it to an auto supplies shop so they can locate the precise paint color to match your vehicle.

Get correct primer : Ask the salesperson if your car’s paint is enamel-based and, if so, what kind of primer to use.Buy paint in a spray can for easier application.

Wash and dry : Wash the scratch area with car wash liquid and dry with a clean cotton cloth.
Sand scratch : Sand the area with very fine sandpaper – 1,500 to 2,000 grit.

Brush away sanding dust : Brush away the sanding dust with a small soft paintbrush.

Apply body compound : Lightly apply body compound to the scratch with a plastic putty knife and let harden. Re-sand : Re-sand to smooth out any bumps.

Spray primer : Spray primer onto the scratch and allow it to dry overnight.

Spray paint : Spray the area with matching paint. Let it dry. If only all car repairs could be so easy

To maximize gas mileage and minimize emissions, your air filter should be changed every six months or 15,000 miles. To optimize savings, change it yourself.

You Will Need

* A flat-head screwdriver
* And a new air filter

Park level, turn off engine : Park your car on a level surface in the shade. Turn off the engine and let it cool down.

Locate air filter : Open the hood and locate the air filter. In most cars, it’s enclosed inside a round or rectangular plastic case at the top or front of the engine.

Flip open clasps : Flip open the metal clasps on either side of the case. If they’re stuck, use the flathead screwdriver to pry them open. In some older cars, you may need to unscrew the cover.

Pull out old filter : Pull the old filter out of the case.Hold the old filter up to the light—if you can see light through it, it’s still in good shape and can be reinserted.

Slide in clean filter : Slide in the clean air filter.

Close clasps : Close the clasps on the case.

Close hood : Close the hood—and breath easy. Now your car can, too.

It only takes a minute or two to check your oil—and that minute can save you a lot of aggravation, not to mention thousands of dollars in repairs!

You Will Need

* A clean rag or a few paper towels
* A can of oil
* A funnel

Park the car : Park the car on a level surface, like a flat driveway.

Turn off engine : Turn the engine off.

Locate dipstick : Open the hood and locate the dipstick. Its handle is usually yellow and shaped like a crossbar.If you can’t find the dipstick, check your owner’s manual.

Wipe off stick : Pull the dipstick out and, using a rag or paper towel, wipe off the stick.

Locate marks : Locate the two marks: “Add” and “Full.”

Slide in dipstick : Slide the dipstick back into its slot, pushing it all the way down, before pulling it out again.

Check oil line : See where the line of oil reaches on the stick. If it falls at or below the “Add” line, then you need to add oil.

Remove fill cap : Remove the oil fill cap—it’s usually marked with an icon that looks like Aladdin’s magic lamp—and place the funnel into the opening.

Pour in oil : Pour a quarter of the bottle into the funnel. Add the oil slowly so it doesn’t go above the “Full” mark.Use only the kind of oil recommended by your manual.

Keep rechecking : Keep rechecking the oil until it’s between “Add” and “Full.”If your oil is consistently on the low side, you may have a leak. Have your car checked by a professional.

Replace cap : Remove the funnel and replace the oil cap. Replace dipstick : Replace the dipstick, making sure it’s all the way in. Close the hood—and take her for a spin!