Hey there! Let me tell you about car stuff

So like, I'm gonna be real with you guys. I'm 15 and I live in Winnipeg, and my dad finally let me help him with our 2018 Honda Civic this summer. At first I was like "whatever dad, cars are boring" but man was I wrong! Now I'm totally obsessed with keeping cars running good, and I want to share what I learned because it's actually pretty cool.

Here in Canada, our cars go through some serious stuff. Like, we got crazy cold winters where it hits -30°C in Manitoba, and then super hot summers that can get to +35°C. Plus all the road salt they put down messes up everything. My neighbor's 2015 Toyota Corolla started making weird noises last winter, and turns out the cold weather made some parts get all stiff and stuff.

What I found out is that taking care of your car isn't just about making it look nice or whatever. It's about safety and not getting stuck somewhere when it's freezing outside. My cousin Jake learned this the hard way when his car broke down on Highway 1 between Calgary and Medicine Hat last December. He was stuck for like 3 hours waiting for a tow truck!

I'm gonna break down all the important stuff I learned about car maintenance, but like, in a way that makes sense for us teens who are just starting to drive or help our parents with car stuff. Trust me, once you understand how this works, you'll feel way more confident about cars and maybe even save your family some money too.

The Basic Stuff You Need to Check Every Month

Okay so the first thing my dad taught me is that you gotta check certain things regularly, like every month or so. It's kind of like how you charge your phone - if you don't do it, eventually it's gonna die on you when you need it most.

Engine oil is probably the most important thing. My dad showed me how to pull out this long metal stick thing called a dipstick. You gotta make sure the car has been sitting for like 10 minutes so the oil settles down, then you pull it out, clean it with a rag, put it back in all the way, then pull it out again to see where the oil level is. There's marks on it that show if you have enough oil or not.

The oil should be between the minimum and maximum marks, and it shouldn't look all black and gross. If it's really dark or has weird chunks in it, that means it needs to be changed. In Canada, especially with our cold winters, you want to use the right type of oil. We use 0W-20 in our Honda because it flows better when it's super cold outside.

Tire pressure is another big one. We got a digital tire pressure gauge at Canadian Tire for like $15, and it's way better than those stick ones. You gotta check this when the tires are cold, so first thing in the morning is best. The right pressure is usually written on a sticker inside the driver's door, or sometimes in the owner's manual.

Here's something I didn't know before - tire pressure changes with temperature! For every 10°C drop in temperature, you lose about 1-2 PSI of pressure. So when winter hits here in Canada, you gotta check your tires more often. Our tires went from 32 PSI in September to like 28 PSI by November, just from the temperature change.

Winter Survival Mode for Canadian Cars

Man, Canadian winters are no joke for cars. Like, if you live anywhere from the Maritimes to BC, you know what I'm talking about. The cold does crazy things to cars that people in warmer places don't have to worry about.

Battery stuff gets really important in winter. Cold weather makes batteries work way harder, and old batteries just give up when it gets too cold. My dad taught me how to check the battery terminals - they're those metal things on top of the battery. If they got white crusty stuff on them, that's corrosion and it stops the electricity from flowing good.

You can clean battery terminals with baking soda mixed with water, but make sure the car is off and you're wearing gloves. The crusty stuff is actually acid and it can burn you. We learned this when we had to boost our neighbor's car in January - his terminals were so corroded the jumper cables wouldn't even make a good connection.

Coolant and antifreeze is super critical here. This green or orange liquid keeps your engine from freezing when it's cold and from overheating when it's hot. In Canada, you need a 50/50 mix of coolant and water, which protects down to about -37°C. That's usually good enough even for places like Yellowknife or Whitehorse.

You can check coolant level in the plastic reservoir tank - it's usually near the radiator and has "MIN" and "MAX" lines on it. But here's the important part: NEVER open the radiator cap when the engine is hot! That stuff is under pressure and can seriously burn you. Always wait until the engine is completely cool, like for a few hours after driving.

Brakes and Safety Stuff That Can Save Your Life

This is probably the most important section because brakes literally keep you alive. My driving instructor in Saskatchewan always said "you can fix a lot of things on a car, but you can't fix being dead." Pretty harsh but true.

Brake fluid is something most people don't think about, but it's what makes your brakes actually work. There's a reservoir under the hood - it's usually a small plastic container with a yellow or black cap. The fluid should be clear or slightly yellowish. If it's dark brown or black, or if the level is below the minimum line, that's bad news.

Here's something scary I learned - brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over time, and water in brake fluid can cause the brakes to fail, especially when they get hot from heavy braking. In Canada, with all our humidity changes from season to season, brake fluid should be changed every 2-3 years even if it looks okay.

Brake pads and rotors are the parts that actually stop the car. You can sometimes see them through the wheel spokes - the brake pad should have at least 3mm of material left. If it's getting thin, you'll start hearing a squealing noise when you brake. That's a built-in warning system.

The rotors are those big metal discs. They should be smooth and shiny where the brake pads touch them. If they're grooved or have deep scratches, or if the car shakes when you brake, the rotors might need to be resurfaced or replaced. This is definitely not a DIY job for beginners - take it to a shop.

Filters and Fluids That Keep Everything Running Clean

Cars have a bunch of filters that keep bad stuff from getting into important parts. Think of them like the lint filter in your dryer - they catch all the junk so it doesn't mess up the good stuff.

Air filter is probably the easiest one to check and change yourself. It's usually in a rectangular or round plastic box near the engine. When you open it up, the filter should be white or light colored. If it's dark gray or black, or if you can see dirt and debris stuck in it, time for a new one.

In Canada, especially if you drive on gravel roads or during construction season, air filters get dirty faster. A dirty air filter makes your engine work harder and use more gas. We change ours every 12,000 km or so, but sometimes more often if we've been driving on dusty roads.

Cabin air filter is for the air that comes through your heating and air conditioning. This one gets gross with pollen, dust, and sometimes even dead bugs. If your heater or AC starts smelling weird, or if the airflow seems weak, this filter might be clogged.

Most cabin air filters are behind the glove box or under the dashboard. They're usually pretty easy to change yourself, and you can get them at Canadian Tire, Walmart, or any auto parts store. Just make sure you get the right part number for your specific car.

Tools Every Canadian Teen Should Have

You don't need a huge garage full of expensive tools to do basic car maintenance. Here's what I think every teen should have, and you can get all this stuff pretty cheap at Canadian Tire or Princess Auto.

• Basic socket set - get one with both metric and imperial sizes since Canadian cars use both
• Screwdriver set - Phillips and flathead in different sizes
• Tire pressure gauge - digital ones are more accurate and easier to read
• Funnel set - for adding oil, coolant, and other fluids without making a mess
• Work gloves - nitrile or latex gloves protect your hands and make cleanup easier

For winter emergencies, you should also have jumper cables, a small shovel, some sand or kitty litter for traction, and a blanket. I learned this from my uncle who lives in northern Ontario - he says you should always be prepared to spend a night in your car if something goes wrong in the middle of nowhere.

A basic OBD2 scanner is also super useful. These plug into your car's computer and tell you what error codes are stored. You can get decent ones for under $50, and they can save you from getting ripped off at some shops. If your check engine light comes on, you can scan the codes and at least know what's wrong before you take it somewhere.

When to Do It Yourself vs When to Get Help

This is super important because some car stuff is easy and safe to do yourself, but other things can be dangerous or make problems worse if you mess them up. I made some mistakes learning this, so hopefully you can learn from what I did wrong.

Safe DIY stuff: Changing air filters, checking and adding fluids (when engine is cold), changing windshield wipers, checking tire pressure, replacing light bulbs, and basic cleaning. These things can't really hurt you or damage the car if you do them wrong.

Get professional help for: Anything involving brakes, suspension, steering, or electrical systems. Also anything that requires getting under the car, working with hot engines, or dealing with pressurized systems. Oil changes might seem easy, but getting under a car that's not properly supported can kill you.

In Canada, labor rates at shops are usually between $120-150 per hour depending on where you live. Toronto and Vancouver are way more expensive than smaller towns. But think about it this way - if you mess up something important, it could cost way more to fix than just paying a pro to do it right the first time.

A good compromise is to find a local mechanic who will let you watch and ask questions. My dad found a shop in our neighborhood where the owner actually likes teaching young people about cars. I've learned more by watching him work for a few hours than I did from watching YouTube videos for weeks.

Building Good Habits That Will Save You Money

The biggest thing I learned is that car maintenance is really about building good habits, not just fixing things when they break. It's kind of like brushing your teeth - if you do it regularly, you avoid big problems later.

Keep a simple log of what you check and when. I use the notes app on my phone, but you could use a notebook or whatever works for you. Write down things like when you checked the oil, what the tire pressures were, any weird noises or problems you noticed. This helps you spot patterns and remember when things need to be done.

Also, learn to really listen to your car and pay attention to how it feels when you drive. Cars usually give you warning signs before they break down completely. Our Honda started making a slight squeaking noise about a month before the brake pads needed to be replaced. If we had ignored it, the pads would have worn down completely and damaged the rotors, which would have cost like three times as much to fix.

Understanding car maintenance has made me way more confident about driving and helped me appreciate how amazing cars actually are. Plus, my parents trust me more with the car now that they know I understand how to take care of it. Whether you're planning to get your license soon or you already drive, taking some time to learn this stuff will definitely pay off in the long run.

json