My husband is a big fan of vehicles, especially 70’s era muscle cars and 80’s era square body trucks. I, on the other hand, know very little about them. I have learned a lot about them recently, mostly because every once in a while, he will walk in from the garage and ask for my help with something. Usually all he needs is for me to hold something or push on something. Just in case you have someone in your life like my husband, here’s a quick primer for you so that you can hold a reasonable conversation or maybe just keep up with their thought process as they ramble to themselves.
Do I need blinker fluid?
If someone tells you that you need blinker fluid, they are trying to fool you. Your blinkers are light bulbs, and you definitely do not want to add any fluid to them. Adding fluid or water to the blinker assembly will put you at risk of shorting out the wiring, which can lead to you needing to repair the whole system. If someone tries to get you a bottle of blinker fluid or turn signal fluid, it is a gag gift, give it back or throw it away. There are even YouTube videos instructing you how to use it – but please trust me – this is just a long-lasting joke, and you don’t need to be the butt of it.
What is a car’s “make and model”?
When someone asks about your car’s make and model, they are asking about the company that manufactured your car. Let’s say you have a 2016 Honda Odyssey. Honda is the manufacturer of the car, which means the “make” of your car is Honda and the model is Odyssey. The model is the basically the version of car. It’s important to know the year, make, and model of your car as many accessories as well as parts for repair and maintenance vary based on which year, make, and model they are designed for.
When should I get my oil changed?
For a long time, the prevailing guidance was to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever came first. With newer cars this frequency is no longer necessary. Most modern models include sensors that will tell you when an oil change is required. It is best to check your cars manual for maintenance specifics.
Why does my car need oil?
Your car engine is made up both large and small, fast-moving intricate metal parts. Oil is used to lubricate these parts and protect the engine from damage caused by friction. This also helps keep the engine from overheating. Car engines typically only last about 15 minutes without oil before catastrophically failing, but any time ran without oil will lead to massive amounts of premature damage. If a car engine has worn out parts, oil can get into the combustion chamber and burn, leading to you needing to refill the oil more frequently. Oil changes are required to prevent oil from becoming sludge. Once oil turns to sludge, it fails to draw heat out of the engine which can be damaging to the engine.
How much oil does my car need?
It depends, but usually between 5 and 8 quarts. Underfilling leaves your engine at risk of not getting proper lubrication, potentially leading to an engine seizure. Overfilling is problematic as well, as it can lead to oil aeration, also preventing proper engine lubrication. Be sure to check your car manual for specifics. When refilling the oil, use your dipstick to measure how full the oil pan is.
What is a dipstick?
Basically, it is a metal measuring rod. It can be found on in the car’s engine, and it is used to measure the amount of oil in your car. There is an optimum amount of oil you should have to keep your engine well-lubricated and running smoothly. This varies by vehicle, but it should be marked on the car’s dipstick.
What is an oil filter? How often does the oil filter need changed?
The oil filter, as it sounds, filters the oil to remove the grit and grime and keep your engine running smoothly. These need to be replaced either every or every other time your oil gets changed. Grit can appear in the engine from engine breakdown, or from exterior sources. Either way, for best engine efficiency you want to remove impurities from the oil.
What is a catalytic converter?
Vehicles with combustion engines emit gaseous waste as a by-product, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. All three of are rather dangerous substances, and a catalytic converter helps reduce the emission of these three in particular, reducing pollution in air and water.
What is a VIN?
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is exactly what it sounds it. It is a number used to identify your vehicle, like its fingerprint, or our Social Security Numbers.
How do brakes work?
If you have disc brakes, the brake pads will clamp around the brake rotor when you step on the brake pedal. This slows the wheels of your car, which is what stops your car. Odds are you have disc brakes as drum brakes are far less common in modern cars.
What is a muffler?
A muffler helps reduce engine noise with multiple tubes that break up sound waves from the engine. As sound waves break up in the muffler, less sounds waves escape from the car, making the engine run “quieter”.
What is an alternator?
This is a device, connected to both the engine and the car battery, that uses energy made by the engine to charge the battery.
What is a chassis?
A car chassis (pronounced CHASS-EE) is the frame of the car. Everything is attached to this, including the brakes, steering and tires. If it is referred to as a rolling chassis, it includes the engine, tires and other parts required to make a car move or roll.