Art of Gears
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Women ‘n’ Wrenches – 7 Things Every Girl Should Know About Car Maintenance

By Nathan Piscopo

FRANKFURT, GERMANY - JULY 19: The TDI engine of a VW Passat car pictured at an automotive service center on July 19, 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany. So far the German government has only required leading automakers caught using illegal software to manipulate diesel emissions to recall the cars and update the software. Critics claim the measure is insufficient and that refitting cars with clean diesel equipment is the only viable solution. Car makers have so far lobbied successfully against such a requirement, citing the high cost. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - JULY 19: The TDI engine of a VW Passat car pictured at an automotive service center on July 19, 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany. So far the German government has only required leading automakers caught using illegal software to manipulate diesel emissions to recall the cars and update the software. Critics claim the measure is insufficient and that refitting cars with clean diesel equipment is the only viable solution. Car makers have so far lobbied successfully against such a requirement, citing the high cost. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) /
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Maintenance is Easier Than Making A Sandwich

It’s true, good routine maintenance can save you bundles of money throughout the lifetime of your vehicle – and really, that’s all we’re going to cover. You don’t need to know much else for right now. The absolute best thing you can do for your car, to ensure it lives a long and relatively-economic life, is to make sure you stay on top of your maintenance.

The word maintenance scares people into thinking they actually have to do something technical, but this is hardly the case. As previously stated, the difference between horrible maintenance and great maintenance is only a few seconds of your life.

The Big Five Items

There are only about five or six things that you actually have to pay attention to (most of which, are simple fluid checks), and once you figure out where they are (and what they do), caring for those items is a breeze. Every car is different, but this generalization covers the “need-to-know” basis. You may need to forgive the simplicity, but we have to assume that we’re starting from scratch, as not to leave anyone behind.

One important question we hope to clarify here is the “WHEN?” When do you need to change an air filter? How often should you worry about flushing your transmission? In every case, I will divert you to your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule; they built it, and they know how to take care of it. I’ll give generalizations throughout this article, but nothing can replace the authority of those who designed it.

Another important reason to stick to the “official” documentation is technology. The old “standards,” like a 3,000-mile oil change, can be highly outdated with the new synthetic oils that many contemporary cars use. Coolant was once flushed out every 30,000 miles; now it can last longer than you own your car.

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