Garage Tech Hints, Tips & Tricks - 101 Garage Tricks

Except for the new oil-less filters, cleaning serviceable filters requires that oil be sprayed onto the surface to act as a dirt-holding agent. Do not over-oil these types of filters, as the oil will be sucked into the air intake system and do negative things to your electronic sensors. Not to mention that air-breathing will be diminished considerably.

Draping a sheet or towel over your workbench area when working on something small with lots of parts that could scatter will help you to find them more easily. Leave the material loose and lumpy instead of smooth, and anything that gets dropped or falls will sit in the material instead of rolling off the bench and into a dark crevice.

In vehicles equipped with serpentine belts, make sure you know how many ribs your application requires. Belt manufacturers make belts for many applications in multiple rib numbers and they are not interchangeable.

Can't get enough torque on a nut or bolt to break it loose? Use the end of your floor jack handle and slip it over the wrench handle. The added length should provide you with plenty of leverage to break the fastener loose.

When disassembling anything from your vehicle, have a box of large Ziploc bags handy with a permanent marker. Fasteners and smaller items go in the bags and the marker is for writing on the bag to clearly identify where the parts came from.

Dielectric grease is made for a reason, and that reason is to prevent corrosion in electrical circuits. Be sure to keep a dab on blade-type fuses and on the base of lightbulbs to prevent spotty operation.

Spilling fluid of any kind on the garage floor is still best handled with kitty litter. It works better than any commercial absorber and doesn't have any dust in it.

Old toothbrushes are great for cleaning use around the shop. They can be used to clean small parts very easily, and their flexible bristles can get into tight openings with ease.

Magnetic dishes are your best friend when working with small metal parts and fasteners.

Most any manufacturer nowadays has an electric in-tank fuel pump. Leading cause of death? Overheating due to low fuel levels. Today's pumps are actually cooled by the fuel and when the tank gets too low, the pump is exposed and gets hot. The pump actually starves momentarily as you stop, go, and corner, which only adds to the problem. Don't wait until the light is on to refuel.

Tapping holes is no cause for concern until you break a tap in the hole. To prevent binding the tap and risking breakage, turn the tap a 1/2-turn forward and a 1/4-turn backwards, then repeat until completed. You will never break a tap again, as the 1/4-turn rearward clears the tap debris.

Working with fiberglass can be an itchy and scratchy experience. Cover your arms with baby powder before you start the job.