Proper car maintenance — the words may sound as boring as the act of doing it. But unless you like the excitement of having to fork out hundreds upon hundreds of dollars because you didn’t do it, it is a necessary evil.
Here are five tips for car maintenance that will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Oil
This is possibly the most important car maintenance habit you should have. If a car doesn’t have enough good oil, the engine’s health will start to decline. When you let your oil level go too low, you force the parts of your engine to grind together, creating wear and tear.
Check your oil often. Make a habit of doing it once a week to ensure that you have enough. You should also be getting your oil changed when it’s appropriate. What that means is up for debate. Garages recommend you do it every 3,000 miles or every three months, but many sources say modern cars can go much longer without an oil change.
Don’t Ignore Warnings
More often than not, your car will warn you when something is going to happen. It’s that squeaky sound or the mysterious light on your driver information cluster. Instead of shrugging and pushing on, schedule a check-up. When we push our cars past these warnings, what was an easy fix can turn into a money-sucking problem.
Watch out for lights on your dash, new and interesting sounds your engine makes, differences in how your car handles — anything that’s out of the ordinary. Spend a few dollars today to save hundreds or thousands later.
Tire Pressure
Another way to preserve your wallet is by regularly checking your tire pressure. When your tire pressure is too low, your tires wear faster. The faster they wear, the faster they blow, costing you a pretty penny to buy new tires.
Make a habit of visually checking your tires every couple of days and actually checking them with a tire pressure gauge once a week. You can most likely find the recommended PSI for your tires on the driver’s side door sill when you open it.
Take it Easy
Driving too fast and too hard can take a toll on a car. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to this — take it easy.
Stay under speed limits, avoid braking hard, and avoid doing donuts in the Walmart parking lot. The less work your car has to do, the less you have to pay for wear and tear.
Tune-Ups
In addition to oil changes, you’ll also eventually need new air filters, spark plugs, belts, and other parts. Making sure you go in for a yearly inspection ensures that your car is getting the care it needs.
Take care of your car, and it will take care of you. If you bought your car at Jim Shorkey CDJR, we can take care of all your car maintenance needs. Stay smart, save money, and happy driving.
Image via Flickr by owen.iverson
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