Five Automotive Tools That Auto Owner Needs

Automobiles are sizeable investments. As a car becomes older, its maintenance becomes increasingly important. There are many tools that every auto owner should have. Auto shops can sometimes charge exurbanite amounts for a simple fix that could have been done at home for much cheaper. Having the proper tools and knowledge will allow any auto owner to save money, learn more about their automobile, and maintain their car.



1. Every auto owner should have a jack and jack stands. When working on a car, more often than not, the car must be elevated. Simple procedures like rotating tires can be done at home with the help of a Jack. Additionally, all car owners should have a jack in their car with them wherever they go. In the unfortunate event of a flat tire, having a jack and a spare tire can lead to a simple tire replacement. In a garage, having a powerful jack and strong jack stands makes it possible for an auto owner to reach every point underneath the car and thus solve problems more efficiently.

2. One of the most important car maintenance practices is the oil change. To maintain an automobile, the oil should be changed once every 3,000 miles. Quintessential to a successful oil change is having an Oil Wrench that takes the oil filter off and allows the oil to be changed expediently. Without an oil wrench, an auto owner may be forced to take their car to an auto shop and overpay for a simple oil change.

3. Often when dealing with parts of the engine, or the hard-to-reach spots under the hood, proper tools are required. A 3/8-inch Socket Set can allow an automobile owner to loosen and subsequently tighten a wide variety of bolts. Different extensions allow the auto owner to obtain the best angles for torque and therefore make auto jobs quite a bit easier.

4. When changing oil, having a funnel, some rags, and a bucket is very helpful. Once again, the oil change is one of the most important maintenances for a car, and it can be done easily by anyone. However, many people do not have the proper tools or knowledge for a successful oil change. Having a funnel can also be useful when refilling any other fluids in one’s car. The funnel serves to make sure that fluids do not get over filled, which can lead to significant problems.

5. Finally, every auto owner should have a pair of solid vice grips. Some times a part will just not come loose. Other times, a car part may not seem to be tight enough despite one’s best efforts. Vice grips can hold a wide variety of car parts and allow the user to obtain more leverage for either tightening or loosening a part. When encountering a part that will simply not come loose, many auto owners will give up and take their car to a shop. Having vice grips can help one to avoid this problem.

Unfortunately, there is no car in existence that doesn’t require constant maintenance. However, with the right tools, anyone can fix minor problems and maintain his or her automobile without the assistance of an auto mechanic. The right tools can lead to a longer last vehicle, and large cost savings.

About the author: Mike Scurria is very interested in automobiles.

Using the Car Care Guide: Empower Your Auto Repair Choices

by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

This month, the Car Care Council and participating auto repair shops across the country (including Cars for Keeps) are celebrating Car Care Month. So what exactly does that mean?

Well, in addition to placing a healthy discount on our bumper to bumper inspections, we're emphasizing customer education. A well informed customer is a great customer - at least we think so. The better you understand your vehicle and its maintenance needs, the longer you'll be able to keep your car running efficiently (which is kind of our thing).

A while back, the Car Care Council published a printed Car Care Guide for vehicle owners to use as a reference for any and every repair service they might encounter. The Car Care Guide is now available in digital format, allowing customers like you to boost your car care knowledge from the comfort of your computer.

Click on the link above, and let's review some of the Guide's most useful features together:

Car Care Checklist - On pages 1-2, the Car Care Guide details every part of your vehicle which requires routine maintenance, exactly how these parts need to be maintained and how often. Handy, huh?

Why Do I Need This Service? Expanding on the list of parts outlined in the checklist, the Guide then provides detailed information about maintenance and service tips for each of these areas. The guide answers that pesky question, "Why Do I Need This Service?" regarding each service area in detail, so you can stop relying on hearsay and subjective opinion.

Typical Service - Wonder what kind of maintenance will be performed on your vehicle when you bring it into the shop? You don't have to. The Car Care Guide outlines common maintenance procedures for each major service area as well as recommendations for service regularity.

Questions to Ask - By far our favorite feature in the Car Care Guide, this section helps car owners know what questions to ask their auto technicians during routine maintenance to ensure you're getting the best service - and that you understand what services are being performed. Your car's maintenance shouldn't be a thing of mystery to you, and we'd be thrilled to answer any of the Guide's questions - or your own.

Why are we so excited that this resource is available to you, the vehicle owner? It provides a trustworthy source of information which isn't from us. In other words, we can be confident that when we say "don't take our word for it", a reliable third party auto repair resource is close at hand.

Press Brakes - Learn How to Work Them and Make Them Work For You

Nothing comes from nothing

To get the most of a tool or piece of equipment, you really need to know how it works. This is true in all lines of work, and for a press brake operator it is no different. Press brakes are wonderful assets to any metal workshop, but only if operated correctly. If they are not, they could end up as expensive pieces of junk. I therefore present to you a few pointers on the proper use of press brakes.

Great drawings = great results

In order for the press brake operator to produce quality parts, she must first have a quality drawing in her hands. A good technical drawing should contain all possible details concerning the part to be manufactured, and the drawing should be made with a specific brake and its tooling in mind, to assure that the part can actually be made on a specific machine. Many specifications of a press brake matter to the work process, and should not be ignored when producing the drawing. For an example, it would not make sense to specify that a part be bent off-center, if this were to exceed the specifications and cause damage to the machine. Drawings must of course contain all necessary measurements, dimensions and tolerances. They should be made by someone who understands the brake, and how a typical work process on it might unfold.

The operator and her press brake

No matter the level of automation a piece of machinery has reached, there will always be a human behind - an operator. That person must have intimate knowledge of the machine; its capabilities and its limits in equal measure. Even bleeding edge press brakes, cnc-controlled and fed by robots - will be worthless if the operator lacks the knowledge to wield the technology. The operator must know, when she sees a drawing for a new part, whether or not the work can be done on her machine. She must know what tooling to use, and in what order. Know whether to use air bending, bottom bending or coining techniques to reach the goal. Knowledge is essential every step of the way, which makes adequate training essential too.

Skimp on the learning, and the quality and productivity will suffer. Knowing the max tons-per-inch limit for instance, could mean the difference between using a press brake to its fullest potential - or exceeding that potential and wrecking the machine by upsetting the ram.

Tooling is another critical subject, and it is up to the operator to choose the right punch and die for the job.

No single combination will do everything, so experience and imagination is required to pick what works best in a given situation. And do remember to check if the tooling is up to its factory specs - unless you want your work to be below par, of course.

Motorcycles for Sale - What You Need To Know

Firstly, you need to look at the bike, and look at what kind of condition the bike is in. Look for scratches, or dents, or if the bike has been abused, or if the seat covers have been ripped or torn. If the bike looks slightly damaged, then it is probably best to look at other bikes. If you are able to, look and see if there are any leaks.

One of the most important parts that you need to know when looking for motorcycles for sales, is what type of bike you want. As there are many different types of bikes, and different brands, knowing what you want will help you narrow down the search and will take you half the time to look for you bike. Also consider, what the bike is going to be used for, and how often you will drive it. As this will help you determine what type of bike you are after.

Next, you will need to look at the tires. The tires need to be in good condition, as you don't want to have to replace the tires anytime soon, because of the damage that has been done to them. There shouldn't be all that much wear and tear to them. They should still be in reasonably good condition.

Next, what you will need to do is look at the brakes. The pad of the breaks, shouldn't be cracked, and there should be a quarter of an inch of the pad left as well. If the bike has breaks that doesn't have good grip, or if it squeals, then you may need to discuss this with a professional.

When you look at motorcycles for sale, you shouldn't just look at the price. You need to look at the overall bike and the condition it is in before purchasing it.

A Woman’s Point of View: The Secret to Keeping What You Have.

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

In the automotive world these days it is becoming trendy to fix up and keep the car you have. It is the “politically correct” thing to do in today’s economy and trend towards sustainability. This is a great trend in theory, but let’s face it girls, we who change our clothes three and four times a day find it goes against our nature to not change our car every year or so. Fess up ladies, who of you have never bought those ‘must have’, hot new shoes only to get them home, taken them out of the box, thought to yourself ‘what was I thinking’, and tossed them in the Goodwill bag. Hmmm?

Oddly enough, I am different about my car. Once I find a car I really like, I will drive it until it falls apart on the road – no matter how much I want all those new gadgets that are in the newer models. My SUV is going on fourteen years old and is still running strong. The secret is to add new features to your old car. GPS devices like Garmin and bluetooth adapter kits are not that expensive, they're easy to install and hey - they work.

I will tell you another secret – regular maintenance. At Cars For Keeps our mechanics give you a strong once over inspection every time you have an oil change. Just like maintaining good health for the body, an early diagnosis to any problem your car may have results in an easier, and cheaper, fix before the first problem causes a second and third problem. So, dust off that old faithful car, give it regular oil changes, keep those fluids fresh, come to us quickly when you hear a noise and maintain those tires with the right air pressure. Your pocketbook will thank you, and who knows, maybe you will find another pair of ‘must have’ shoes.