Do-it-Yourself Car Maintenance: Part I

In celebration of gas again rocketing past $3 a gallon, I decided to put my recent automotive training to good use and compile a list of the maintenance you don't need a mechanic (and their hourly rate) to perform. I'll demonstrate on my car, a 2004 MINI Cooper S. Keeping your car decently maintained can save you thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs, lost time and towing bills.

First Stop: Purchase a detailed repair manual for your year and model car. This is handy for everything from fluid specs to repair procedures, and it's what your mechanic uses. You can get them in paper or in CD/DVD format from eBay Motors. Mine set me back $80, and it's saved me a lot of grief.

Check 1: Air Filter. Despite what some bloggers seem to think, a clogged air filter is a setback to good fuel economy and a simple thing to check and change. Like a vacuum with a full bag, a restricted air filter reduces the amount of air an engine can inhale, letting the engine "breathe" less efficiently than the manufacturer originally intended. It's therefore ideal to replace the air filter every 30,000 miles or so.

TOOLS NEEDED (in my case): 1 set Torx bits, 1 medium-tip flathead screwdriver, 1 1/2" drive extension and ratchet

ADVICE: Take your time. If you have any doubts that you'll be able to remember how to reassemble the air box after you've started on the repair, be sure to take pictures detailed enough to use as a reference. (Having pictures to refer to has saved me more than once on a complicated car repair!) And of course, be sure to have a new air filter ready if you think yours needs changing!

REMOVE IT: Two torx-head screws hold on my air cleaner cover. I used the appropriate torx bit to remove them, moved the battery positive lead (to the left of the airbox) out of the way, and removed the air box hose to get access to the cover. After that, a little twisting and the air filter cover popped right out. This air filter is FILTHY, so it's a good thing I'm changing it!

REPLACE IT: Nothing easier than just popping in the new filter. Had the air box beneath the filter been dirty, I would have taken this opportunity to clean it out. Luckily the bottom of this air box was relatively clean, so I proceeded with finishing up the job. I had to fight the air box cover and the battery lead to get them back into their original positions, but it had to be done. The battery lead keeps tension on the air cleaner cover. Without the lead in the correct place, the air filter box may leak air--potentially a very bad thing. But eventually everything came back together the way it should and I replaced the bolts, reaffixed the air box hose and tightened down the one clamp I had to take off.

CHECK OVER BEFORE RUNNING: After doing any repair, you should always make sure to clean up your tools and any spare rags/paper towls/fasteners etc. (Though you shouldn't have any "spare" fasteners if you've done the job right!) Tools laid down carelessly in the engine compartment can become dangerous to your safety and irreparably damage the car. Also make sure all the fasteners you loosened and removed are WHERE they should be and AS TIGHT as they should be, and torque them if that's what the specs in your manual require. If all is clear, fire up the car and make sure the air filter seal is good and everything seems to be OK.

CONGRATULATIONS, you just changed your own air filter! This maintenance is so simple, I often wonder why it's not taught routinely to new car owners...certainly it saves you time and money when you don't have to rely on your mechanic for every little thing!

IMAGE CREDIT: Bentley Service Manual - TunerMotorsport.com

PHOTOS (c) Going Broke 2010