10 Hacks Every Car Owner Should Know

America is a car-centric culture: more than 90% of American households own at least one vehicle. There are many different types of cars, from lovingly maintained old classics to sleek new electric vehicles to luxury cruisers packed with cutting-edge technology. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, getting the most out of your vehicle requires regular maintenance and sound driving practices, but you can also get a little more mileage out of any vehicle with these universal automotive tips.

Throw some anti-seize lubricant in your trunk

If you’ve been driving for any length of time, you know that flat tires only happen at the worst possible times. Sunny days when you have a lot of time? These tires are foolproof. Whiteout conditions and you’re rushing for a job interview? Guarantee flat – and you will find that your lug nuts have fused and become absolutely impossible to move.

One way to avoid this is to judiciously use a little anti-seize lubricant, which is designed to prevent rust and other corrosion. To be fair, mechanics debate this: Some professionals believe that using anti-seize on lug nuts changes the torque required, which can cause them to loosen over time. But many people have used a small amount of anti-seize lubricant to make changing or rotating tires easier without any adverse effects. The key is to use a very small amount, just enough to protect the wires.

Add silicone lubricant to your door seals

The seals around your car’s doors help insulate the interior. Over time, these seals can become stiff and begin to fall apart, making your vehicle unattractive and less comfortable to drive. You can avoid this with a simple hack: take some silicone lubricant and apply a thin layer to the rubber seals around your doors, trunk and windows. This will save you some frustrating maintenance in the future and can prevent doors from freezing in the winter. (An oft-repeated version of this tip is to use petroleum jelly, which is OK in a pinch, but it can cause the rubber to break down over time, something silicone-based lubricants won’t do.)

Track your tire tread wear with a quarter

Tire tread is essential to the safe and efficient operation of your car. Bald tires not only increase the risk of hydroplaning or loss of vehicle control, but they also force your car to use more fuel to overcome their rolling resistance, thereby reducing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Tire tread is measured in 32nds of an inch – new tires typically have a tread depth of 10/32″ or 11/32″, and you should replace your tires when the tread is eroded to about 4/32″ or less. You can follow this easily with a quarter – find the most worn spot on your tire, slide a quarter upside down into the tread. If you can see the top of the head of Washington, you need to replace the tire You can also use a penny to see if you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head, but that measures 2/32″ of tire tread, which means you need to replace the tire. immediately. The test quarter warns you to replace your tire before a dangerous situation arises.

Prevent Small Window Cracks From Spreading With Nail Polish

A cracked windshield is ugly, and even a small crack will likely spread, slowly but inexorably, until you have no choice but to replace the glass entirely. If you have a visible crack on your windshield, you should replace it, but if that’s not possible right away, there’s a short-term trick you can use: nail polish.

This is not a permanent repair, but it will save you time by slowing the spread of the crack. Clean the damaged area thoroughly, then coat the exterior And inside the cracked area with clear nail polish. Let it dry and go about your business. You’ll eventually need to replace the windshield (or have a more permanent repair job done), but this hack will allow you to schedule the work instead of having to handle it in an emergency.

Prevent items from falling between seats with pipe insulation

Have you ever lost your keys, phone or any other item between the seats of your car? If so, you know it’s like Mission: Can’t get your property back. These spaces were simply not designed for human beings to enter.

A simple tip to prevent this situation from happening is to fill these gaps (this also prevents crumbs and other dirt from filling these spaces). Pipe insulation is the perfect material for this: cut a piece to length and wedge it between the seats (or seats and console), and never lose anything again. In a pinch, the ever-useful pool noodles could also be used. Alternatively, you can purchase storage organizers designed to fit these spaces, which solves the problem while giving you extra space for your belongings.

Use a plunger to repair minor dents

A dent in your car is annoying and potentially expensive to repair. For minor cosmetic dents, you don’t need any special tools or professional help. All you need is a heat source and a common bathroom plunger.

For the heat source, you can boil water, pour it over the bump, then use the plunger to remove the bump. You can also use a heat gun or hair dryer, although the water can help the piston get a good seal on the car body.

Put socks on your wiper blades

Nothing is more fun than making your way to your car in the freezing cold, only to discover that the wiper blades have frozen to your windshield. Of course, your car will eventually heat up enough to release the wipers, but if you’d rather not have to wait for that miracle to happen, keep an old pair of tube socks in the glove compartment. On cold nights when the wipers are likely frozen, cover your wiper blades with the socks. This will protect them from damage and prevent them from freezing to your windshield.

Try to always turn right to save money on gas

It’s one of those amazing tricks that people find hard to believe, but it actually works: To save money on gas, always turn right unless a left turn is absolutely necessary – yes, even if it makes your trip longer.

UPS has built this policy into its vehicle routing software, asking its drivers to avoid left turns whenever algorithmically possible, and thus claims to use about 10 million fewer gallons of gasoline each year. In fact, our largest repository of scientific knowledge, Myth bustperformed a segment proving that they used about 3% less fuel by avoiding as many left turns as possible while driving a fake delivery truck.

Please note, this does not mean Never make a left turn. This means prioritizing right turns when planning your route, even if it makes your journey longer. Whether the extra time required is worth saving a little money on gas is another decision entirely.

Use hand sanitizer on frozen strands

Another inconvenience on cold winter mornings? Frozen car locks and doors. Although most newer cars have keyless entry these days, you can still end up with a frozen door, and if your battery is dead from the cold, you may need to use a physical key to access the car. When this happens, a simple trick is to get out the hand sanitizer you probably have in your coat pocket. Squirt some into the lock (or coat your physical key before inserting it) or around the edge of the door. After a few seconds, the alcohol in the disinfectant will have melted the ice and you will be able to open everything easily.

Get a glove box organizer to maximize your storage space

It’s been a long time since anyone used a car’s glove box to store their gloves. What most of us do is put things in there thinking we might need it one day, then forget what’s in there and go a decade or two without actually opening it.

Instead, hack that space with an organizer. You can find molded plastic organizers designed to fit specific models (like this one for a Toyota Tacoma or this one for Tesla Model 3s), or you can find wallet-style organizers that will keep your literature and other items tidy, making the glove box actually useful for a change.