A car is a major purchase and its maintenance can be very expensive. It is also a machine that needs constant care, especially to ensure its safety. The following are some tips for keeping your car in good condition and avoiding expensive repairs.
Drive with care every day
It’s not only when you’re driving on the highway or at high speeds that your car is vulnerable to damage. How you drive your vehicle every day can extend or shorten its lifespan.
- Properly inflate and rotate your tires. Under-inflated tires make it harder for your engine to push around the car, increasing fuel consumption and wear on the engine and suspension. Over-inflated tires reduce traction, making it more likely that your car will skid, hydroplane, and/or lose control of a corner in bad weather conditions.
- Drive within the speed limit at all times. This protects you from collisions but also keeps stress off of your car’s engine and transmission, which overheats when used hard for extended periods of time—just like any machine would!
- Don’t slam on the brakes unless it’s absolutely necessary to avoid an accident; this causes wear on brake discs, pads and shoes as well as additional stress on the suspension components that are holding up wheels during deceleration.
- Keep up with basic maintenance such as changing the oil regularly (including oil filter), keeping coolant levels topped off (not just in winter), checking tire pressure often (especially before long trips), inspecting wiper blades for cracking or streaking and replacing as needed; putting off routine maintenance is like procrastinating chores around the house—it all piles up eventually!
Buy gas at reputable service stations
When you’re buying gasoline, do your research and use a reputable service station if possible. The major gas stations sell similar products (gasoline) for varying prices. The price per gallon can vary by as much as ten cents from station to station depending on location, high or low demand, oil quantities and more.
Also, avoid using “top tier” gas if your car doesn’t require it—it’s more expensive for no good reason!
Choose a good car insurer
When choosing an insurance policy for your car, you want to look for a company that provides good coverage at a fair price.
You should also strongly consider how reputable the company is, and whether or not they have strong customer service. If you know people who have used them before, ask them about their experience with the company. If you are purchasing a brand new car, then you will also want to find an insurance company that will cover the entire value of your car in case it is totalled or stolen.
Don’t fill up if you see the tanker
If you’re the type who’s always looking for ways to save a buck, it may surprise you to learn that your regular gas station visit is costing you more than it should.
That’s because there are ways drivers can avoid paying more for gas without compromising on quality. One of those is avoiding the gas station when you see a tanker truck around. This could be a sign that the station’s underground tanks are being refilled, which means any new fuel going into your car will be mixed with whatever was already in the pump. If that fuel has been exposed to dirt or water, your car could have problems down the road. So if you see a tanker truck at the pump, go elsewhere and come back later!
Keep an auto log
Keeping track of car maintenance, services and repairs are essential to extending the life of your vehicle, saving money and avoiding future headaches. Unfortunately, a large number of drivers fail to keep any kind of accurate log pertaining to their vehicles.
It’s important to keep a record because things happen quickly when you’re behind the wheel. Before you know it, you’ve forgotten that you need new brakes or that your alternator belt squeals when it rains. When a certain part of your car breaks down, it is safest to get a new one and throw the old ones in the trash. For some parts, you need a professional hand. Choose stores that will instantly replace the part on your car, such as the One Stop Suzi Shop.
An auto-log can also help determine if there is a problem with your vehicle before it’s too late for preventative measures. Maybe something doesn’t sound right but you don’t know exactly what it could be—if you can describe the noise in detail in your log book, then a mechanic will have an easier time helping out. Perhaps something isn’t working quite right but there are no discernable sounds or smells yet—an accurate service record may be able to pinpoint what’s wrong before something breaks down completely. Additionally, if there is ever an issue with recurring problems, then your log book may help identify patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Park in the shade
There’s one simple thing you can do every day to keep your car happy: Park in the shade.
While this strategy may seem obvious, it’s still a great habit to get into. Parking in the shade protects your car from ultraviolet rays that can cause damage to its exterior paint and interior upholstery. It also helps protect against heat buildup on hot days and acts as a barrier against potential theft or vandalism.
When parking in a lot, look for spots under covered areas or trees when available. If you have access to a garage at home, use it!
Cars are expensive. You don’t have to be a car fanatic to know that repairs, maintenance, and gas can add up very quickly. Take care of your car in the right way and you will save money and prolong its life!
