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A CAR expert has revealed how to perform a diagnostics test on your vehicle without paying for professional help.
The car enthusiast said it’s easier than most drivers think, and being able to do it yourself should give a little extra peace of mind if you’re worried about a mechanical failure during long-distance drives.
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Cong (@conggeshuoche) filmed and uploaded the advice to his booming TikTok account, boasting over 2.6million followers.
He began his video by instructing viewers to check for enough engine oil.
Driving with proper oil levels is vital since the liquid progressively gets contaminated and becomes sludge as you rack up miles.
This sludge won’t be able to lubricate the moving parts of your engine and can lead to more expensive future repairs.
Pulling out your dipstick in a tube under your vehicle’s hood will verify whether your engine has proper oil levels.
Dipsticks typically feature bright yellow or orange handles, making them more easily identifiable.
Cong highlighted how the dipstick’s end portion has two lines, with the lower one indicating that your oil is one quart short and the upper line showing that your oil tank’s full.
Drivers should wait a few minutes before performing another dipstick oil evaluation after topping off their oil to ensure it fully settles.
Using a dipstick on a level surface is vital if you want the most accurate reading.
Next, Cong asks viewers to evaluate their antifreeze levels under their car’s hood.
Antifreeze prevents your engine coolant from freezing and is stored in a tank that usually contains minimum and maximum level markings, along with a triangle logo.
You can refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual to find the exact position of your model’s coolant reservoir.
If your antifreeze is below the reservoir’s minimum line, you may be dealing with a leak that needs fixing, a common problem, Cong says.
But driving with an antifreeze leak can result in total loss of your vehicle since its engine will overheat, so periodically checking your levels will help you avoid pricier future repairs.
Cong also suggested checking your car’s brake fluid.
You can locate your brake fluid reservoir under the hood by searching for a tank with vertical minimum and maximum arrows pointed in separate directions or through your owner’s manual.
Cong explained that driving with low brake fluid levels can result in brake failure at high speeds.
Lastly, this auto expert asked his viewers to check the timing belt wrapped around their engine for cracks.
A vehicle cannot operate with a fully-broken timing belt.
But while they can be inexpensive to replace yourself, it can be incredibly pricey to have a mechanic do it, especially if it has caused other engine problems.
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