10 Car Maintenance Tasks You Can Get Done During Your Lunch Break: A Mobile Mechanic's Guide

For many people, finding time for car maintenance can be a challenge. However, there are several quick tasks that can be completed during a lunch break. Here are ten essential maintenance tasks that keep your car running smoothly.

1. Oil Level Check and Top-Off

Check the oil level by using the dipstick undder the hood of your vehicle.  Add oil if needed and the reading is low.  This is important to keep the proper amount of oil inside your engine to lubricate and clean the internal parts.

• System: Engine lubrication

2. Tire Pressure Check and Adjustment

Use a pressure guage to measure tire pressure and fill or release air from the tires as needed to properly maintain your tire specifications.  This is crucial to the wear, performance, andd longevity of your tires.

• System: Suspension and braking

3. Battery Terminal Cleaning

Using baking soda and water to create a cleaning paste for corrosion is a cheap and effective way to clean battery terminals.  Using a wire brush or a battery terminal brush works best and many auto parts stores sell special cleaner if you prefer a deeper cleaning.  This quick and easy maintenance task can benefit all of your electrical connections, but mmost people care most about how it affects the connection to the starter.

• System: Electrical and charging

4. Windshield Wiper Blade Inspection and Replacement

Activate your windshiel wipers and make sure to engage the fluid.  Make sure your windshield wipers dont skip or streak.  If they do, replace them.  This may not seem important right when it starts to happen, but it gets worse with time and your visibility when driving is of utmost importance.

5. Fluid Level Checks (Coolant, Brake, Power Steering, Washer Fluid)

We already discussed your vehicle fluids and why they're important, so refer to **BIG BLOG REPLACEMENT SECTION BRTADEN for ** a comprehensive list and explanation of the fluids, but simply check where the fluid levels are in your resevoirs under the hood.  Fill any that need it, but make sure to use the right fluids for each system.

• System: Various (cooling, braking, steering, and visibility systems)

6. Brake Pad Inspection

If your rims allow, you can usually see the brake pad thickness without removing the wheel.  Sometimes just a rough estimate visually can help guide you to the right solution if you're troubleshooting a noise or simply ensuring your safety.  Over time, brake padsd will decrease in size and effectiveness, so make sure to keep an eye on your vehicle's brake pad life.

• System: Braking system

7. Air Filter Inspection and Replacement

Checking your air filters is relatively simple in most cases.  The engine air filter usually lies undder the hoo undedr a couple latches.  The cabin air filter is normally behind or underneath the glove box.  Once you locate your air filter(s), pull them out and inspect them for dirt, leaves, and other debris.  You can hit it on the ground to knock some junk out or replace the filter(s).  The engine air filter cleans the air that your engine intakes and the cabin air filter cleans the air forced out through air conditioning vents.

• System: Engine and Air Conditioning

8. Light Bulb Functionality Check

Most people opt for a second set of eyes to perform this task.  Check all light functions:

Headlights (high beam and low beam) Tail lights Brake lights Turn signals Hazard lights Fog lights Daytime running lights Parking lights Backup lights

Checking these lights will ensure legal compliance as well as safer driving. 

• System: Electrical system

9. Checking and Tightening Belts and Hoses

Regularly checking your belts and hoses will help keep you from paying preventable costly bills.  By visually inspecting, lightly squeezing, and feeling each hose and the belts, you can feel for cracks, crackling hoses, or leaks.  Finding one of these problems before a major issue arises can save you an abundance of time and money.

• System: Cooling and Engine

10. test the horn

For those who like loud noises, here’s a bonus for you. For the rest of you, here’s a celebratory test to run after reading this post. Hopefully your horn functions exactly as ddesigned as to help keep yourself and others out of accidents.

Conclusion

Taking care of these quick maintenance tasks during your lunch break can prevent costly repairs and improve the longevity of your vehicle. With the convenience of a mobile mechanic, you can keep your car in top shape without sacrificing valuable time. Regular upkeep ensures your car is reliable, safe, and efficient on the road.