5 Car Care Basics Every Driver Should Know

You don’t have to be a mechanic to understand your vehicle. Knowing a few basic car care skills can help you feel more confident behind the wheel, better understand when your vehicle needs attention, and be more prepared when the unexpected happens.

From checking your oil to knowing how to change a tire, there are a few things every driver can benefit from learning. And the good news? They’re easier to learn than you might think.

1. Know What’s Under the Hood

Opening the hood of your car can be intimidating if you don’t know what you’re looking at. But you don’t need to know what every single part does.

Start by learning how to identify some of the basics, such as your engine oil dipstick, coolant reservoir, windshield washer fluid reservoir, battery, and air filter. Knowing where these components are located can make routine maintenance feel much less overwhelming.

Keep in mind that every vehicle is different, so your owner’s manual is always a great resource for finding specific components and maintenance information for your vehicle.

2. Learn How to Check Your Oil

Engine oil plays an important role in keeping your engine properly lubricated and running smoothly. Knowing how to check your oil level is one of the simplest car care skills you can learn.

Many vehicles have a traditional dipstick that allows you to check the oil level yourself, while some newer vehicles use an electronic oil-level monitoring system instead.

Either way, knowing how your vehicle monitors its oil — and paying attention to maintenance reminders — can help you stay on top of routine maintenance.

3. Know How to Change a Tire

A flat tire can happen when you least expect it. Knowing what to do can make the situation a lot less stressful.

Drivers should know where their spare tire or tire repair kit is located, whether their vehicle has a jack and lug wrench, and the basics of safely changing a tire.

It's also important to remember that safety comes first. If you're on a busy roadway or in an unsafe location, getting professional roadside assistance may be the better option.

4. Learn How to Jump-Start a Vehicle

A dead battery is another situation many drivers will experience at some point.

Learning how to safely jump-start a vehicle can save you from being stranded and help you understand what to do if your vehicle won't start. It's important to know how to correctly identify the battery terminals and connect jumper cables or a portable jump pack in the proper order.

Because vehicles can have different jump-starting procedures and connection points, always check the owner's manual before getting started.

5. Understand Basic Vehicle Maintenance

You don't need to perform every repair yourself, but understanding what your vehicle needs can help you take better care of it.

Get familiar with routine maintenance items such as oil changes, tire pressure, tire rotations, fluid checks, filters, brakes, and other manufacturer-recommended services.

Paying attention to changes in how your vehicle drives, sounds, smells, or feels can also help you recognize when something may need to be checked.

Learn Car Care Basics Hands-On at Cassill Motors

Reading about car care is helpful, but sometimes the best way to learn is by actually doing it.

That's why we're hosting Car Care Class 101 at Cassill Motors on Monday, September 28th from 5:30–7:00 PM.

This FREE, hands on class taught by Jackson Maeder, is designed to help drivers become more comfortable with their vehicles and learn practical skills they can use in everyday life.

During the class, we'll cover car care basics including checking fluids and oil, changing a tire, jump-starting a vehicle, identifying vehicle parts, basic maintenance, and more.

The class is open to ages 14+, making it a great opportunity for new drivers, experienced drivers who want to learn more, or anyone who has ever opened their hood and thought, “Okay…now what?”

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes since we'll be getting hands-on with some of the skills we discuss.