Let’s face it. Working on our cars and trucks is a love-hate relationship. The feeling you get after changing the oil, replacing brake pads, or waxing your car is great. The problem is that if you don’t have the right tools, and work on your car or truck can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and even dangerous. There are certain auto tools everyone should have and others that it simply makes more sense to borrow or rent. Here we go over the items which every novice and professional mechanic should have in their repertoire. We will do our best to continuously update based on feedback we’ve received.
One of the worst mistakes a DIYer can make is to buy cheap tools. Buying cheap tools meant for high torque applications is a recipe for disaster. That’s not to say you can’t buy good impact sockets at a reasonable price, but you should always shop around cautiously to avoid something that will snap into …
Automotive OBD2 scanners and car code readers are the easiest and least expensive ways to find out why your engine light is on and get it to turn off. Even the best car code reader under $50 will give you the same basic information you’d get from the dealer or an auto repair shop, and …
Good seating is important for a wide range of automotive tasks such as brake pad replacement, body work, and detailing. A long day’s work in the shop will take far less toll on your body if you can sit at a crouching height and roll around from place to place. The best creeper seat take …
Shop stools come in several varieties. For some, the best shop stool is nothing more than a sturdy, simple stool or even folding chair. Others require something that’s more comfortable with plenty of padding or even a backrest. For garage environments, it’s important the seat has an adjustable height, made out of a material that …
When you do a lot of your own car repair, maintenance, or restoration, there’s nothing more helpful than investing in a good car lift. Unfortunately, most of the automotive lift reviews out there only cover commercial lifts so deciding on the best car lift for your home garage can be a challenge. Below you’ll find …
Read moreEasy Auto Maintenance – Best Car Lifts for the Home Garage
Polishing and waxing your car can be a total pain, but the benefits are undeniable. From the factory, the only thing protecting your car’s paint from the elements is a thin layer of clear coat. Just normal driving and outdoor parking can place a heavy burden on the clear coat and it typically doesn’t take …
Read moreHow to Use a Car Buffer to Polish and Wax Like a Pro
Ask anyone who works on cars and uses a mechanics creeper, and they’ll tell you it’s well worth the money. Working on your car is so much more enjoyable when you’re actually comfortable and not straining your neck. There are a few different styles of mechanics creepers on the market. A lightweight creeper is perfect …
Read moreSlide Into Tight Spaces: Top Rated Mechanics Creepers
You pull your car out of the driveway, then notice something unusual in the spot your car just left. There’s a small dark spot there, a small puddle of some vehicle fluid, and you don’t know what. Is it normal? Is it bad? There are a few different types of vehicle fluids, and while some are …
Read moreWhat’s That Leak? Types of Car Fluids and Their Colors
When looking for the best car battery charger, there are a couple of things that every model should have. The ability to charge 6 and 12 volt batteries is important, since lawn tractors and yard equipment often use a 6 volt system. Also, having a float charging system that will not overcharge the battery can …
Read moreKeep the Power Flowing with the Top Car Battery Charger in 2018
It’s not exactly a product on the top of a person’s wish list but a decent oil drain pan makes the oil change process of capturing and recycling or disposing of old oil much easier. The best oil drain pan is large enough to tackle the biggest vehicle you own, and is built with a way to …