Do-It Yourself Car Maintenance

Posted October 26, 2016

Not all car maintenance needs to be done in the tire shop. Here are some things that you can do yourself!

Check Your Tires

First, you can inspect your tires. Check to make sure that nothing is puncturing your tire tread. If you find something lodged in the tire, bring it to your local Integra Tire as soon as possible to get the tire patched or replaced.

Second, you should check your tire pressure. Your recommended tire pressure level will be indicated on the sticker of your side door or in your owner’s manual. To test your tire pressure, remove the valve stem cap and place a tire pressure gauge over the valve stem. Make sure to place the gauge directly over the valve stem so that the air comes directly into the gauge and isn’t released into the air. If your tire levels are low, you can bring it into your local Integra Tire and we will fill them for you. Keep in mind that tire pressure levels will fluctuate depending on the weather. In cold weather, tire pressure will decrease.

Lastly, you should check your tread depth. You can do this by using a tread depth gauge but you can also check the tread with a toonie. When you place the toonie into the tread and you can see more than half of the silver, then your tread depth is too low and you need new tires.

Check Your Oil

Checking your oil is easy. Just pop your hood and find the reservoir with the oil symbol. Pull the dipstick out of the reservoir and wipe it off with a lint-free cloth. Put it back into the reservoir and pull it out again. The dipstick will have a guide on the very tip that will indicate if your oil is full or needs filling. If your oil is low, bring it to your local Integra Tire and we will inspect for leaks and fill it up for you. You may even be in need of an oil change. Oil changes should be done every 5,000 – 10,000 km.

Check Your Washer Fluid

Your washer fluid reservoir is a large clear container with a washer fluid symbol on it. Generally, you can look at it to see if it needs filling. A light will also come on your dashboard indicating if it is low. You can bring it into your local Integra Tire to have us check it for you and fill it, if necessary. When filling your washer fluid, make sure that you are choosing the right type. All-season washer fluid is generally blue and can be used in the summer and winter. Bug wash is generally pink and can only be used in the summer. Make sure that you drain the bug wash from your reservoir in the winter or else it could freeze and destroy your reservoir and washer fluid lines.

Check Your Lights

There’s nothing easier than checking your lights. Turn on your vehicle and walk around the car to make sure that they are all on. To check your signal lights, turn one on and check it. It is also helpful to have someone stand outside of the car to let you know if the brake lights and backup lights are working.

Remember that if you aren’t comfortable checking any of these things yourself, your local Integra Tire will always be happy to help!

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.