What damage can a scent sticker cause to your car? Why is it crucial to use turn signals
even in a parking lot? And, can you use a log instead of a car wheel? Here comes another
lineup of auto tips every driver has to know!
9.
Using turn signals when finding parking places is (or at least should be) something that’s
almost a natural instinct. But do you ever do it when backing out of a parking spot?
If you’re wondering why that would be necessary, the answer is simple: safety. Other drivers
and pedestrians aren’t psychic, so they have no clue which way your back end will
go. So use your back left signal when backing out to the left, and the right one when you’re
going in the opposite direction. Once you’ve finished the maneuver and are ready to hit
the road, just signal as you normally would.
8.
Many older cars have a gas pump. It pumps fuel out of the tank and into the carburetor.
In there, it gets mixed up with air and then gets burned off in the engine. Sometimes your
car just won’t start, and one of the reasons for that is problems with your gas pump; it
can wear out or weaken with time. But there’s a trick to make it work: take the key out
of the ignition, then turn it on again but don't start the car straight away. Wait for
a couple of seconds to let the pump do its job and only then start the vehicle.
7.
In case you're looking for a way to save some cash, consider a DIY windshield cleaner. If
you think of it, the main enemy of your windshield is grease! You get it from the hundreds of
cars constantly moving in front of you. Cars are always leaking different kinds of fluid:
engine oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, break fluid and what not. Whenever it rains,
they mix up with puddle water and then your car gets splashed. Now, what normally helps
you get rid of grease? Bingo, it's the dishwasher! So take a spray bottle, fill it with water
and about two tablespoons of dishwashing soap and voila, you just got yourself an effective
and basically free windshield cleaner. When you spray it on, try to stick to the windshield
and don't go over the paint job since it might wipe it off.
6.
In the white winter season, never ever use a brush to clean snow off your vehicle. If
it's really heavily covered with snow, you can brush off the top layer and remove the
snow from the windshield and mirrors to have enough visibility. But don't brush the snow
off the car body because it scratches the paintwork. To keep your vehicle bright and
shiny, exercise patience and wait until it thaws. If there isn't a lot of snow, start
it, and let it thaw out. If there’s a lot of snow, reduce it to a thin layer and the
rest will fall off by itself as you start moving. For your own safety and the safety
of others, never hit the road if you can’t see where you’re going!
5.
There’s another winter trick that will save you a good deal of frustration. Sometimes
as you're driving on a snowy day, you can feel your steering wheel and wheels vibrating.
Stop and take a look at the wheel disk. Sometimes, as you pass through a snowdrift, snow sticks
to the disk, and then because of moisture or rain, it turns into ice. It can stick on
the inside of the disk, and that massive piece of ice on the wheel can make it vibrate while
you're driving. It’s not safe, of course, and can pull you to the side of the road or
make your steering wheel shake. So, if that happens, stop and kick the wheel with your
foot to beat off the snow. If that doesn’t help and your steering wheel is still vibrating,
see a mechanic.
4.
When you’re traveling down a highway or a country road, little pebbles might come
flying your way. They aren't that dangerous and you might not even notice the damage,
but if you look closely, you can find small scratches on your headlights. If you plan
to stay on the road for a long time and rain catches you on the way, your headlights might
fog up because of that damage. They’ll need to be repaired, but in the meantime, use a
piece of transparent adhesive tape. It will prevent the moisture from getting in through
the gap and the headlights from fogging up.
3.
Don't use air fresheners that are scent stickers. You must be wondering what kind of damage
that cute little sticker could do to your dashboard, air conditioner, or wherever you
stick it. The active chemical components that make your car smell like an ocean breeze or
the tropics can damage the paint or make it dull. If, for example, your car stays in the
sun for too long and they spill, they can cause some serious damage. Even if it just
remains stuck as it should, the evaporation of this liquid over months can leave a stain.
The paint will fade or get bubbly. If you’re looking for a safe scent sticker alternative,
you can actually make one yourself. Fill a mason jar with baking soda about 2/3 full.
Then, add 20 drops of whatever essential oil you prefer. Cover it with a lid and shake
it well to mix. Take off the lid and then cut out a cardboard piece to match the size
of the lid. Stick it to the jar using the ring part of the lid. Poke some little holes
in it, and it’s ready! You can put it in the cup holder or somewhere under your seat.
It should last you a month.
2.
If your vehicle suddenly fills up with unpleasant odors that your AC sucked in or one of the
passengers accidentally produced, your air freshener might not help, and you’ll want
to do it the old-school way. Remember one thing though – when you air out the vehicle,
open the windows that are kitty-corner to each other. For instance, open the driver
seat and the right rear window. If you just open the front windows, the air will blow
back and spin, but the stinking smell won’t disappear. If you open all the windows on
the same side, the air will get in through the front window and go out through the back
one. And, as you air out the car, slow down a bit to save your hairdo from some serious
gusts of wind.
1.
Checking your oil levels is critically important since oil to your engine is basically like
blood to your body. So make sure to check it regularly and only on a cold engine. You
see, if you locate the dipstick in an engine that was just actively working, it won't give
you the most accurate results. The bubbles that form from splashing on the way will prevent
you from seeing how much oil you actually have in there.
BONUS Replacing a missing wheel with a log
Okay, this one sounds like it was taken straight out of a Russian fairytale, but it actually
works, and you can find pictures and videos proving it online!
Imagine this: you’re on a deserted highway going through the woods. Something is wrong
with one of your rear wheels. You can’t ask anyone for help, and you gotta keep going.
As absurd as it might seem, you can actually log your way home! If you take a log and attach
it to the bumper, than stretch it under the body of the car and attach it to the rear
axle, it will work as a makeshift wheel, or a sledge for your car. This will only work
on your rear wheels because they don’t turn, and you’ll have to go slowly and carefully,
but it actually works!
And, you can also use a log to get out of mud. Tie it to the wheel using a rope, tape,
or even your own shoe laces, thread it through the hole in the wheel disk, take it out on
the other side of the wheel and tie it once again. Then do the same with the second wheel.
The trick will work is you start driving at a steady speed with no sudden acceleration
or stops.
Which of the tips do you want to try out first? Let me know down in the comments! If you learned
something new today, then give this video a like and share it with a friend. But – hey!
– don’t go anywhere just yet! We have over 2,000 cool videos for you to check out.
All you have to do is pick the left or right video, click on it, and enjoy! Stay on the
Bright Side of life!