Going to the mechanic can feel like throwing away money, but it's not always necessary.  The next time you're working on your car, avoid these seven common mistakes to save time and money. Overestimating Your Skill Before diving in, ask yourself, are you really capable of doing this? Some tasks are better left to professionals, so don't make things worse.  Using The Wrong Equipment No matter how skilled you are, proper equipment is crucial for success, using the right tools, safety gear, and parts helps make sure everything goes smoothly.  Trying To Memorize Parts Taking things apart can get confusing, so using a label maker or sticky notes to keep track of parts will make reassembly much easier.  Buying Cheap Parts While saving money is important, sometimes cheap, third-party parts aren't as reliable as the original ones, and your safety depends on quality parts. Working Unsafely Always check if your car is properly jacked up, wear gloves and goggles, and avoid touching hot components like radiators or oil.  Using The Wrong Fluids Make sure to use the correct coolant, oil, and other essential liquids, as using the wrong ones can cause serious damage to your car.  Not Reading The Manual The owner's manual provides essential guidelines for your car, ignoring it can lead to serious problems.