16 Car Care Hacks You Should Never Try in Your Driveway (It’s a Disaster Waiting to Happen)

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Taking care of your car is rewarding and can save you money, until it goes sideways. Some tricks work a treat in a shop, but don’t try them in your driveway and you could end up with an absolute mess, or worse, a big repair bill.

Before you pick up your tools and start what appears to be a quick fix, take a good look, at these car care hacks you should never, ever try in your driveway. These are disasters in the making, and you don’t want to turn a simple car check up into a full blown emergency.

Engine Degreaser

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Engine degreasers are harmless, but using them in your driveway can be a big mistake. The harsh chemicals in these products can flow into your lawn or down the street and damage the environment. So, rather than send the run off, head to a car wash or professional detailing center equipped to treat the runoff safely.

Changing Tires Without the Right Tools

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Changing a flat may seem simple, but it’s best to do it with the right tools. Bolts stripped with makeshift tools like a standard wrench or an unstable jack can result in not only stripped bolts, but an accident. If you’re not prepared, stick to an emergency roadside kit or call for help.

Skipping on a Professional Alignment

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You might be thinking you’re good to go after replacing tires or doing any suspension work. However, if you skip an alignment, you risk an uneven tire wear and steering problems. It’s a common shortcut, but a bad alignment causes you to wear your tires out of shape and shortens their lifespan.

Melting Ice on Your Windshield With Salt

Driving with Snow on Your Car
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Salt sprinkling on your windscreen to melt ice might damage your glass. Not to mention, it’s hard to clean that residue up. A good ice scraper or de-icer spray is a much better approach and you won’t get a scratch on your windshield.

Trying to Install a Sunroof

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Unless you’re a certified mechanic, there’s no way you’re going to install a sunroof yourself. That means there’s a high chance your car is going to leak or develop structural issues that could make your car unsafe. Professional installation guarantees the job is done and the frame and roof are not damaged.

Refilling Transmission Fluid Without a Flush

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Unless your transmission expert runs a proper flush to get rid of all the remnants, topping off your transmission fluid will not fix the problem. The old fluid gets contaminated over time, and mixing old with new can kill your transmission with sludge.

A Baby Oil Glossy Finish

Photo of a Woman with Pink Hair Brushing the Headlight of a Black Car
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Baby oil may be cheap, but it leaves your car greasy and attracts dirt. A car wax or polish is designed to keep the paint protected, while imparting a gloss that will last. If you want a glossy finish that doesn’t get dirty, stick to the real stuff.

Covering Leaks With Super Glue

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Super glue can fix almost anything in a pinch, but it won’t seal car leaks. Patching a fluid leak with super glue can actually make things worse. Oil and coolant can dissolve the glue, and if it gets into the wrong places, you may be looking at a bigger repair.

Home Brake Fluid Replacement

Pouring Oil to Engine
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Brake fluid change is one that you don’t want to attempt on your own. Brake systems are delicate, and if you put in air or use the wrong fluid, you’re compromising your brakes. Since this is one of those tasks that is best left to the ‘pros,’ the ones able to assure that your brakes are fully functional and safe, leave the job to them.

Coca Cola Battery Corrosion Cleaning

Car Battery Beside an Engine
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Pouring Coke over battery terminals to clean off corrosion sounds clever but it’s messy and doesn’t work. Coke will clear some corrosion, but the sugar in it will leave a sticky residue that attracts dirt. Much safer are a wire brush and proper battery cleaner.

Tinted Windows and Windex

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It’s tempting to grab the nearest glass cleaner, but Windex and other household window cleaners contain ammonia, which can harm the tint on car windows, making it bubble and peel. To keep your tinted windows looking sharp, go for an ammonia free car window cleaner.

Duct Tape for Quick Fixes

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Now you know duct tape is a miracle worker around the house, but not so much on your car. It might keep things together for a while, but the sticky residue you leave behind ruins your car’s paint. It’s also a temporary fix that can get worse over time. If you need a short term solution, you’re better off using automotive grade tape.

Removing Scratches With a Screwdriver

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DIY advice suggests using the tip of a screwdriver to ‘buff out’ scratches, but this will probably make more scratches or gouges in your paint. Risk less damage by using a proper scratch removing compound and soft cloth instead.

Washing Your Car With Dish Soap

Four Children Washing Silver Toyota Prius
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While it might be easy to grab the dish soap in your kitchen, this cleaning hack does more harm than good. Dish soap is made to cut through grease, which means it’ll strip off the protective wax on your car, leaving the paint open to the elements. Instead, stick to car specific soaps, they’re gentle enough for your car’s finish.

DIY Windshield Crack Repair

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Fixing a windshield crack yourself can be a nightmare. DIY kits are tricky to get right, and if you don’t seal the crack perfectly, the dirt and moisture will seep in, and you’ll be left with a poorly done job that could get worse. Professional repair might cost a bit more, but it’s far better than having to deal with a badly done job.

Painting Over Rust

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DIY guides suggest painting over rust spots to stop them from spreading, but that’s only a temporary fix. It will keep eating away underneath, and eventually, it will be a much bigger problem. Sanding down the area, applying a rust inhibitor and then painting the area is proper rust treatment.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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