A 7-part series
Car Owner Essentials
The car skills every driver should know. None of them require a mechanic.
We wrote this series because we spent years paying people to do things that take five minutes. Tire pressure, flat tires, oil checks, jump starts. They sound intimidating until someone shows you. These guides are that someone.
What you'll learn
- ✓ How to check and adjust your tire pressure
- ✓ How to swap a flat tire on the side of the road
- ✓ How to change your own oil (and when to just pay someone)
- ✓ How to check your oil level in 60 seconds
- ✓ How to jump start a dead battery safely
- ✓ How to parallel park on the first try
How to Check Tire Pressure
Check and adjust your tire pressure with a gauge and the number on your door jamb, and learn why the dashboard warning light comes on late.
How to Change a Tire
Change a flat tire on the roadside. Pull over safely, loosen the lug nuts before you jack, and stay inside your compact spare's speed limit.
How to Change Your Oil
Change your engine oil at home, from warming the engine and draining the old oil to fitting a new filter and taking the used oil for recycling.
How to Check Your Oil
Learn how to check your car's oil level in under two minutes. All you need is a rag and your car's dipstick.
How to Jump Start a Car
Learn how to jump start a dead car battery safely with jumper cables. Step-by-step guide with the correct cable order.
How to Parallel Park
Learn how to parallel park step by step. Covers the exact technique, reference points, and how to handle tight spaces without hitting anything.
How to Use Jumper Cables
Learn the correct order to connect jumper cables safely. Step-by-step guide covering terminal identification, connection sequence, grounding, and what to do after the jump.