One of the readers commented recently that the articles should be oriented toward the practical, pragmatic aspects of prepping in the scenario I am currently living in.

I can´t agree more.

As a result, the focus will be more strongly directed towards that purpose.

Let´s begin.

In a survival or preparedness scenario, maintaining our equipment and vehicles is crucial. On our roads, things like professional assistance or a towing truck belong to the past for most of us who are not affluent. The most we can hope for if we ever get stranded is that someone with good intentions and a strong sling or rope ties up our car, and tow us to the next town.

Under our current circumstances, a bunch of my colleagues (and myself) have been forced to do some tasks that we usually could afford some “specialist” (ahem) to do for us. That belongs to the past. Now we have to repair our stuff as much as we can.

Breakdowns can happen at the worst times, and having the right tools can make the difference between a minor setback…and a major crisis.

Here are four basic tools that every prepper should have for maintenance purposes:

1. Torque Wrench

Let´s define what torque is.

Torque: The Driving Force Behind Automotive Mechanics

Torque comes to be the rotational equivalent of “linear force”, and plays a fundamental role in mechanics. It is the measure of the force that causes an object to rotate about an axis or pivot point.

Understanding Torque

Torque is calculated by multiplying the force applied to an object by the distance from the axis of rotation to the point where the force is applied. This distance from the point of application of the force until the pivoting point is known as the “momentum arm”. That´s why by using a lever and increasing this distance, we can exert more force.

In mechanical maintenance, we use torque wrenches to provide the necessary “grip force” to the bolt or nut being tightened.

This is an important parameter as we will see in this torque wrench calibration video. The unit of measurement for torque is typically Newton-meters (Nm) or pound-feet (lb-ft). The higher the torque value, the greater the rotational force applied.

Why is this important? Because it is related to the level of grip that a bolt will have on a component. This is the most simple explanation I can find for you. Engineers and designers calculate these grip forces so the bolts and nuts get in place and don´t come loose, as well as adding some other measures like special washers of all kinds to avoid things loosening up.

It is very important to understand that, if a bolt or nut is designed to work with a washer or spacer…

We. Have. To. Use. It.

There are digital torque wrenches (my favorites) which are incredibly easy to use and you can´t go wrong with modern technology in this regard. They have a visual and auditive indicator once you reach the limit you have previously set up, which makes them super useful. In the industry we usually identify all the bolts or nuts with the same torque in a subassembly, set the wrench, and once we torque a piece, mark it with a metal marker of the favorite color. This assures you won´t miss any component!

Another good reason to use a wrench torque (for younger guys) is, with time your muscle memory will be able to remember the torque and associate it with the reading, giving you an extra level of accuracy for when you don´t have the torque wrench nearby and need to tighten something to a specific torque.

As a good practice, we should have a printed scheme if we are going to work with assembly/ disassembly, where the torques and parts configuration are depicted.

Use a printed copy of the scheme. You don´t want to bang your phone or tablet, nor risk getting it dirty with oil, grime, and grease.

Summary

1. What torque (related to wrenching and bolts) gauge is: A specialized wrench that allows you to apply a specific amount of torque to a nut or bolt.
2. Why it’s important: Overtightening can strip threads or even break bolts, while under-tightening can lead to crucial parts or components coming loose. A torque wrench ensures we are going to tighten all the bolts and nuts to the manufacturer’s specifications, preventing damage and ensuring things stay put. Otherwise, failing to do so can make the part come loose. No bueno.
3. How to use it: Consult your equipment’s manual (workshop manual) for the correct torque specifications. Set the torque wrench to the desired setting, then tighten the fastener until the wrench clicks or indicates that the specified torque has been reached.

Your mechanics should already know (and use!) these tools. Of course, there are incredibly experienced guys who don´t use it (I don´t accept this, but they exist everywhere) except for specific parts when rebuilding an engine or some other similar surgery-like work; but after learning about critical components of the steering and front suspension going loose and failing because of the maintenance guy not using a torque wrench, I won´t risk myself again. There are many good videos on the streaming platforms to learn how to do a lot of stuff, and right now, I have done some interesting tasks on my own that are leading me to become more and more self-reliant maintaining my old pieces of junk. Including scanning my car computers, installing and removing alternators, starters (my father rebuilds those), gas pumps, polishing the headlights, vapor-cleaning the engine bay, installing heat/noise insulation carpet, and some other basic stuff. I hope to buy (someday) an ultrasonic cleaner tub because it works very well to clean at a level hard to find with any other kind of cleaning, even chemical cleaning. It works for many applications (and for my homemade copper-aluminum battery), especially for fuel system components where varnishes and fouling become an issue because of the small orifices and tight gaps where the fuel should flow without restrictions.

Mind you, modern vehicles are more and more delicate every year. They don´t have the same overdesign exhibited by the vehicles most of us grew up with. This means we have to go by the book with our maintenance.

2. Fiber Optic Viewer Probe

1. What it is: A flexible probe with a magnifying lens and a light source, used to inspect hard-to-reach areas.
2. Why it’s important: You may need to diagnose problems with limited visibility. Or perhaps a small piece fall down in a place where you can´t reach it easily. A fiber optics endoscope can help you see inside engines, machinery, or other tight spaces without the need to disassemble everything. You only need a port to insert the probe and will be able to have an incredible view of components that otherwise would need disassembly. Then you can see if there is wear, grime, or whatever you may be looking for in the insides. There are probes that have even a little claw to retrieve small pieces that are in places where they shouldn´t.

This probe is interesting because it has even tactical applications, but I will leave that to the Special Forces crowd out there.

3. Air Pump + Tire Gauge

1. What they are: An air pump for inflating tires and a gauge for measuring tire pressure. If your car has an air suspension, you definitely need one pumping unit installed on board.
2. Why they’re important: Proper tire pressure is essential for safe and efficient vehicle operation. An air pump allows you to inflate tires as needed, while a tire gauge ensures that you don’t overinflate or underinflate them.

A good idea is to use those valve caps with pressure sensors and forget about hand measuring. But if you are one of those who need to inspect tires and the general vehicle (which is always healthy) then go traditional and get a good hand gauge. You could detect on time a stain of some fluid or even a strange noise (I used to warm up my engine for a couple of minutes in the early morning, and meanwhile, gauge the air in the tires before a long road trip) and avoid potential problems. I have a small portable, 12v, which I use on my bike, too – I bought it years ago for less than 25$. Affordable and inexpensive to replace. I will get a sturdy, heavy-duty hand pump someday when it gives up: that will surely be passed on from hand to hand to the next generations.

4. Oil Draining Pump

1. What it is: A pump designed to remove oil from engine reservoirs or other machinery. Some of them can work with diesel also.
2. Why it’s important: Changing your oil is a basic maintenance task that’s essential for keeping our equipment running smoothly. An oil-draining pump makes this job easier and less messy, especially if you don’t have easy access to a drain plug. I like to spend as little time as possible below a car because it´s uncomfortable and I´m not used to it.

As odd or silly as this may sound, I don´t like getting my hands dirty, so I work as neatly as possible and use gloves as long as the task allows for it. On the other hand, keeping a good grip on a wrench is better with gloves, and if your wrench slips, this will protect us from painful scratches. So, yes, I like to use gloves. Especially, after the accident last year where I cut the tip of my finger.

This is a good way to empty your engine oil without making the usual mess. For those of us thinking seriously about going full diesel (which in a tropical country like this where our cars overheat so badly), wasted engine oil could be a great way to save money and keep our rigs running in the future after proper treatment of that homemade diesel. There are even some hand-powered pumps out there.

How to use it

Insert the pump’s tube into the oil dipstick hole or drain plug. Operate the pump to extract the old oil, and dump it in a container for later disposal. It is important to remove the drain plug to extract all the residues; however, doing this after the carter is empty is marvelous because you avoid the stream of hot oil and the splash/splat. Those who have had to fish the plug in a dirty oil pan know what I mean. Just let it drain naturally, put the plug again, then the oil filter, torque them, and refill.

Remember this, regardless of not knowing a thing about cars, engines and stuff:

Maintenance is key.

Regularly inspect and maintain all your equipment to prevent problems before they occur. A good reason to keep things as simple as we can.

Store tools properly: Keep your tools clean (my dad laughs when he sees me cleaning his tools. Boomers are built differently, indeed), organized, and in a dry place to prevent rust and damage.

I hope this article has been a good guide for some of the most useful gadgets we DIYers use.

I look forward to your comments, I´d love to see what you use regularly to maintain your vehicles and other equipment.

Thanks for your sponsoring to those who´ve kindly sent them.

It´s a huge relief of the financial stress I´m under these days.

Stay safe and keep tuned!