22 votes
Accepted

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

Aside from what you mentioned, I always carry: Portable air compressor (12v) Small tool set (common wrenches, screwdriver, grips, electrical tape and zip ties). A good flashlight Spare cellphone ...
race fever's user avatar
  • 3,353
14 votes

How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?

Here's a "tip to make sure I got everything right" for the future. One that I use myself, and taught my Auto Tech students as well: The very first thing is to take off the oil cap, and place it over ...
SteveRacer's user avatar
  • 12.4k
12 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

To be a little more pragmatic than the other suggestions... what classifies as an emergency can be subjective. To me the emergencies I have experienced in a motor vehicle typically come in the form ...
DanK's user avatar
  • 121
12 votes

Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?

Battery operated flashlights or worklights which share batteries with your cordless tools would be a good option. These will allow you to work on the car even with a dead or disconnected battery. ...
Freiheit's user avatar
  • 350
11 votes

Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?

There are a number of ways to do this, but the two that come immediately to mind are battery-powered LED work lights. (A quick internet search will turn up many). Two varieties might be of use/...
Edward's user avatar
  • 2,857
9 votes
Accepted

How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?

I believe you just dripped some oil on your exhaust when drained it, don't worry, and your "paranoid" stuff is good - it means you care. Good job Snake! ;)
Arturs Bolsunovskis's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

How can I remember when to service my vehicle?

Use a dry erase board (whiteboard) I use a whiteboard in the garage. Low tech, but very effective. I track not only necessary service date/mileage, but also when they're due for government inspection ...
Edward's user avatar
  • 2,857
7 votes
Accepted

What's the best place to safely store a life hammer?

Since you posted another question about an Aveo/Kalos i guess you are talking about that car. Some come with the holder, with the possibility to attach it to the door or somewhere close to the knee ...
Erik vanDoren's user avatar
6 votes

Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?

A "dead" car battery can still have more than enough juice to run things like LED lights, phone chargers, etc. - and lots of us have one kicking round the workshop we haven't got round to disposing of....
John U's user avatar
  • 476
6 votes

How can I remember when to service my vehicle?

Go to the local parts store. They have small plastic stickers which remind you when to change the oil; in the USA, they're usually free, as long as you don't take hundreds. Get one for each vehicle, ...
PeteCon's user avatar
  • 8,692
6 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

A friend gave a really good advice, since most smartphones are quite fragile these days (just look at the number of shattered displays), it is a risk that they break if you are in an accident. He ...
Viktor Mellgren's user avatar
5 votes

How can I check if handlebars are straight?

Since your motorcycle has handlebars that are a single piece, remove them from the motorcycle and remove all accessories from them. Check for obvious signs of bending such as cracked paint or metal. ...
Eric Urban's user avatar
  • 1,286
4 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

I keep a piece of outdoor carpet (I cut it to cover my cargo deck) so I can drop it on the ground and protect my clothing/knees when I jack the car up. Flashlight. Glowstick - to tie to me so I'm more ...
Blackbeagle's user avatar
4 votes

How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?

So, to answer the more general question – how to verify that everything is OK with the oil change (TL;DR - If you were reasonably careful and aren't standing in a puddle of new oil, you probably didn'...
dlu's user avatar
  • 14.5k
4 votes

How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?

I think you'll be OK. Drive it around a bit more, and that oil, which sounds like it's on the exhaust pipe, will burn off. Your oil pressure sounds in the normal range - it's usually lower at idle (...
PeteCon's user avatar
  • 8,692
4 votes

How can I remember when to service my vehicle?

I make my own little paper tag. It has three things on it Date of last oil change Mileage at last oil change Mileage at next oil change. (generally I use 5000 mile increments) I write real small. ...
zipzit's user avatar
  • 6,539
3 votes

Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?

My take is slightly different, though related to what has been said. Obviously, LED lighting is the way to go. The reason for this is because the for the amount of light, it uses very little battery ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
3 votes
Accepted

How can I check if a wheel axle is straight?

You would want to use a dial indicator and a pair of vblocks In order to understand the amount of run-out you may have on your axle you will want to be able to measure the amount of run-out and you ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
  • 32.9k
2 votes

What's the best place to safely store a life hammer?

You could attach a visor panel on your sun shade and place the life hammer there. Something like this MOLLE-compatible visor could work: The MOLLE attachments give you plenty of versatility, and its ...
JoErNanO's user avatar
  • 1,765
2 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

I would add A first aid kit A hi-vis jacket A pair of warning triangles, preferably folding.
CSM's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

I usually carry something I can use to break the windows in case of emergency. This can be a life hammer. I also have either a small knife or a dedicated tool to cut the seatbelt if needed. Both ...
JoErNanO's user avatar
  • 1,765
2 votes

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

My equipment: Hardware: Set of tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and a full 3/8" socket set) Tire change equipment (lift, spare tire, lug wrench) Multitool knife Jumper cables Cellphone charger (...
Martin's user avatar
  • 8,448
2 votes

Technique to driving over parking lot speed bumps

Slow as you can stand if you want your shock absorbers to last a bit longer. Shocks are typically oil filled canisters that use the oil to quell the desire of the spring to keep bouncing, by forcing ...
Caius Jard's user avatar
  • 1,145
2 votes

Should I put cement in my trunk for the winter?

Adding weight definitely helps but that depends on the type of vehicle i.e FWD or RWD. If its a RWD and if you drive solo then you can add weight but if your car is already fully loaded with people ...
DhKo's user avatar
  • 1,155
2 votes

How can I check if handlebars are straight?

Find a flat surface Take all of the accessories off of you handlebars, strip them clean of any additional item. Set the handlebars on the flat surface. You should have 4 points of the handlebars that ...
DucatiKiller's user avatar
  • 32.9k
1 vote

Best way to fix (or hack) a warped exhaust manifold?

In your images, it appears the right flange is lower that the other two. The reason I say this is because in the second picture, the left and middle flanges are level to your square with the right one ...
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2's user avatar
1 vote

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

Stuff I'd recommend carrying (some of which is required in certain jurisdictions, other things are optional everywhere) In the car: Hi-Vis vest (some places require one per passenger) Warm Jacket - ...
Nick C's user avatar
  • 28.7k
1 vote

What emergency gear and tools should I keep in my vehicle?

Where I live - snow chains can be helpful. Check local rules. If you can't have chains, a piece of carpet can help you give your tires some grip when your wheels slip. Or (non-clumping) cat litter. ...
Floris's user avatar
  • 206
1 vote

How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?

If you did spill oil on the engine, it can take a pretty good while before it will burn off completely. The oil pressure readings you're getting sound great. If you are getting different oil pressure ...
TRIGGA's user avatar
  • 242
1 vote

How can I remember when to service my vehicle?

This is what computers are good at When you get a vehicle serviced, create a reminder in your calendar on the next service date (with a notification 1 month in advance). Also create a document ...
Hobbes's user avatar
  • 4,412

Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible