Auto Maintenance DIY for Beginner

Knowing how to check, and change, your car's fluids, clean and replace the filters and check hoses and belts has many benefits. The most obvious is that you will save money on labor costs. But besides that, a well-maintained vehicle emits less pollutants, runs smoother and has less chance of leaving you stranded on the side of the road.
To do DIY car maintenance, you do not need to have specialized tools or equipment. More often than not the tools that came with your car are enough for the basic tasks. Unless you have intentions of opening a car repair shop one day, buy tools as you need them, individually if possible. But buy the best that is available or at least a reputable brand. Poor quality tools will round off nuts or screw heads and make a simple job a frustrating, hair-pulling exercise.
Of course, doing DIY car maintenance means that you must have some basic knowledge of what the major car components are, like the radiator, cylinder head and the location of the brake system hydraulic cylinder. It's easy enough to learn about a car's major components on the Internet, but one of the best ways to learn about a car is of course through formal courses. Knowing the location of a car's components will allow you identify where the oil filler cap is, what the radiator cap does and when it's safe to open, and where to add hydraulic fluid for your clutch and/or brake system.
On a weekly basis, you should check your car's tyre pressures. If you travel long distances regularly, you should check the oil level too. Wash your car on a weekly basis too. Except for the tyres, you don't need to use detergents to wash it. With the myriad electronic components on modern engine bays, it's not advisable to subject the engine to a prolonged dousing of water.
Monthly, you should check coolant levels, and the brake fluid, power steering, engine oil and transmission fluid, if your car has a dipstick for that. Top up to the recommended levels with the manufacturer's specified oil or brake fluid. Eye your windshield washer reservoir to see if the level is above the minimum. Plain water is not really the best washer fluid to use because scale may build up over time and clog the system. Also check the inner side of your drive belts for cracks or broken ribs. Shine a light so that you can check for the cracks clearly. Replace any belts that show signs of wear, or have reached the replacement period suggested by the manufacturer.
Although newbie car owners may think that tires are just black donuts that you run into the ground, maintaining tyre pressures and checking for signs of uneven tyre wear will alert you to misalignment or failing suspension components. Often this will spell the difference between long-lasting tyres and tyres that you need to replace within half their rated life.
The car's manufacturer will have recommended intervals for servicing your car. Oftentimes, the manual will contain this information. Sometimes, the manufacturer will provide a supplementary service manual. You should follow the schedule as closely as possible. If you go through the list, you will see that a lot of the service items on the list are DIY car maintenance items that can be performed in your garage.