After covering the best hand tools and important safety equipment, supplies, and tools in the first two parts of this Top Tools series, the final topic covers the items and accessories you may need to perform routine maintenance tasks. From routine oil changes and checking tire pressure to replacing suspension or starting components, having the right equipment and accessories can make the scheduled auto maintenance less of a hassle and cheaper overall. For DIY enthusiasts that are ready to tackle a repair, it’s important to have an idea of the maintenance tools, supplies, and items that your vehicle requires to make a successful repair.
Having shop towels on-hand during your repairs or maintenance can make it easier to clean up spills or messes quickly, so you can get back to your project. Shop towels are also stronger and more durable than paper towels, which means you can clean up messes more efficiently while saving money overall. From reusable wipes and towels, to disposable shop rags and one-time-use cleaning wipes, O’Reilly Auto Parts carries a variety of shop towels to fit your exact needs.
At the end of working on your vehicle, getting rid of sticky or greasy residue on your hands is a frustrating and messy final task. Hand cleaners are a quick, easy, and effective way to remove adhesives, grease, paint, grime, and oils from your hands, often without even needing running water. Available in single-use towels, soap-style bars, smooth lotion and pumice creams, hand cleaners are a reliable way to prevent transferring residue onto clothing and furniture, while also ridding yourself of potentially toxic materials. For substances that are not removed with soap and water, a wide selection of hand cleaners for mechanics from O’Reilly Auto Parts are a must-have item for any toolbox or garage.
Fill up fluid reservoirs, or top off oil, coolant, and transmission fluid levels without spills or messes with the help of a funnel. A funnel simply helps streamline liquids into the intended container or reservoir and provides a larger area to add fluid so that it makes it into the desired reservoir. Prevent wasting fluids or grease buildup and spills by picking up a reusable funnel from O’Reilly Auto Parts, available in different basin and neck sizes, shapes, and stem lengths for any project.
An oil drain pan is extremely useful when performing routine oil changes, and helps prevent spilling oil or contaminating the environment while making oil transportation and recycling quicker and easier. Oil drain pans are used when draining a vehicle’s engine of oil or other fluids, and substantially reduce oil spills in the driveway or on the floor of your garage. Oil drain pans are usually round or square, and may vary in size and capacity. Some drain pans also convert into an oil drain container to easily transport old oil without hassle or spills. For smaller projects where an oil funnel or oil pan is necessary, an oil drip tray is a perfect tool to keep in your garage. Oil drip trays are thin metal trays that help contain small amounts of oil or other liquids to prevent drips on the ground. Discover the perfect drip tray or oil drain pan for your specific needs at O’Reilly Auto Parts to make routine maintenance tasks cleaner, quicker, and easier.
Maintaining the pressure in your vehicle’s tires is easy with a tire pressure gauge. Tire pressure gauges are available in both digital and analog designs, but regardless of the style, they are an essential item to keep in a vehicle’s glove box or in the garage. A tire pressure gauge can also help you determine if any of your TPMS sensors are malfunctioning by manually reading the exact pressure level in each tire and comparing it against your vehicle’s readout. Analog tire pressure gauges are traditional, non-electric options that can use either a gauge face and a needle or a extendable stick-style readout to indicate tire pressure, whereas digital tire gauges feature a digital screen readout for more precise measurements and simpler use. Some digital tire pressure gauges also have an illuminated screen for use in low-light environments, or may have additional features like a flashlight, adjustable measurement units and more. Discover O’Reilly Auto Parts’ selection of tire pressure gauges in differing ranges, shapes, and styles to fit your personal preference.
A mechanic’s creeper is a rectangular platform made from either plastic or metal with wheels attached to help easily slide you beneath a vehicle for more comfort and less physical exertion. Creepers can range from a simple plastic roller to a padded, more comfortable steel option. Another type of creeper, top-side creepers, provide a comfortable padded platform to lean over the engine compartment of a truck or tall vehicle to do maintenance or make repairs. No matter the price tag or features, creepers are a useful tool to have in your garage or shop to help you avoid a backache or uncomfortable repair. Shop a wide range of quality creepers at O’Reilly Auto Parts.
An air compressor pressurizes air that can power air tools in your shop utilizing a variety of hoses and couplers. Air compressors can be used for a wide range of automotive tasks, including filling tires with air, and are needed to use pneumatic power tools such as impact wrenches, grinders, cut-off tools, sanders, and more. Not only can you use the high-pressure air to remove dust and dirt or dry water spots, but having an air compressor handy can also help you air up household items like athletic balls, air mattresses, or pool inflatables more easily. Find the best air compressor for your garage at O’Reilly Auto Parts, where we have a variety of sizes, styles, and even portable air compressors available to fit your needs.
Auto repair manuals help organize information about your specific vehicle, and are often specific to a make and model and range of applicable years. Information in the service manual for your vehicle could include part diagrams, part replacement and maintenance intervals, as well as descriptions, specifications, and step-by-step instructions to complete repairs the right way. Car repair manuals can help make repairs easier and more streamlined by providing the information you need to perform a lasting repair or keep your vehicle as well-maintained as possible. Discover DIY repair manuals in both print and digital formats at O’Reilly Auto Parts to help you do the job right the first time.
Keeping auto maintenance tools handy can make scheduled or unforeseen projects easier. If you have followed the first two parts of this series and have the best tools for home mechanics and garage safety equipment, you can tackle your repairs or automotive tasks with confidence, peace-of-mind, and added knowledge. Find the parts, tools, and accessories you need for whichever project at O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Find Rental Tools Near You
Need simple tool rental, or just don’t want to spend the money on a one-time-use tool? Ask about O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Loaner Tool Program, which allows you to rent specialty tools that you may only need once! Find spring compressors, circuit testers, tail pipe cutters, ball joint presses and suspension tools, and an array of pullers, installation tools, and much more to help with any automotive repair through the O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Loaner Tool Program. O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Loaner Tool Program