Car Care 101

Have a high school graduate heading off to their first semester on a college campus? Along with all the feels you might have as a parent dropping your kid off at their dorm for freshman orientation, we would also encourage some practical preparation – car care!

As students leave for college, freshmen and even seasoned college students can use a few basic pointers on how to care for their cars. If you’ve never taken the chance to teach your kid some of these basic skills, now’s a great time to do it! Cars that are well-maintained last longer and retain their value. Some basic maintenance and attention to the details can help your student’s car make it through the whole four years (and maybe even through a victory lap if needed).

Here are Snap Dog’s favorite car care maintenance tasks that every high school graduate or college bound student should know!

Changing Windshield Wipers – Windshield wipers should be changed every six months or so, depending on the weather. Buy the best wiper blades you can afford as they will perform the best throughout the life of the blade. Now’s a great time to teach your student how to change their own wiper blades when necessary and how to know when they need to be changed. Wiper blades should be changed when they stop pushing rain and snow off the windshield and the glass is no longer clear. Failing to change them can of course result in low visibility and increase the risk of a crash. Buy a high-quality wiper blade so that the rubber stays intact and attached to the metal piece as it should.

Changing Auto Light Bulbs – Teach your graduate to regularly check their lights by doing a regular walk-around their car to make sure everything is in working order. It’s sometimes not easy to tell if a headlight or taillight is out when you’re actually driving the vehicle. In addition, show them how to change the light bulbs themselves, referencing their car’s maintenance manual if necessary.

Clean, Inspect and Jumpstart a Battery – Prior to leaving for school, check your graduate’s battery – you can get a free battery test at most auto parts stores. The average battery lasts about four years, so if your student is driving an older car, this step is especially important. Replace the battery if needed, and make sure all terminals are clean and clear of corrosion. Finally, make sure your student’s car is equipped with jumper cables and that they know how to use them. They’ll be the hero when a roommate needs a jump prior to a big final exam!

Check Tire Tread and Refill Tire Pressure – Make sure your graduate knows how to check their tire pressure AND how to refill the tires with air when needed. Refer to that handy sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door jamb. Teach your grad the penny test: Hold the penny by the bottom, at Abe Lincoln’s shoulders. Point Mr. Lincoln’s head toward the center of the wheel and insert the penny into the tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tires. Otherwise, you can some tread left. Make sure to check the tread, pressure and expiration date on the spare tire as well and to inspect the tire at several places in its circumference to ensure it is wearing evenly.

How to Change a Tire – Check your spare and make sure your graduate knows how to change it. Do a practice round together using a jack stand and the wheel lock key. Inspect the tire to make sure it is in date and property inflated. If you bought a used car, make sure the tire actually fits your car. Be sure to get tires rotated regularly.

Check the Oil and Fluid Levels – Most newer cars have plenty of indicators to let a driver know what’s up with their engine, oil pressure and fluids, but it’s worth showing your kid the old-fashioned way of doing these basic maintenance checks. Bonus? If they learn to change their own oil, they’ll save a little money. At the very least, make sure they know how to CHECK their oil and fuel levels.

Get a Regular Car Wash – We can’t say enough how much a regular wash and wax will help protect your car and maintain the life of the paint job. Teach your grad the satisfaction of simply maintaining and caring for their car. A regular wash adds so much enjoyment to driving and owning a car for the long haul.