How To Save Money On Car Maintenance

Cars are one of the most expensive investments a person can make, so it’s important to keep them in good condition.

If you don’t take care of your car, it could wind up costing you more than just money. You might have to pay for costly repairs or even buy another vehicle altogether.

Follow these nine easy steps and you’ll be on your way to saving some serious cash on maintenance!

To keep your car in good condition, follow these tips:

Oil Change

Make sure you change the oil regularly. This is one of the most important things you can do to keep your car running smoothly. Most mechanics recommend changing the oil every 3000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first.

If you don’t have time to take it in for a regular oil change, there are many places that will do it for you while you wait.

Tyre Pressure

Another thing you should do regularly is check the tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower your gas mileage by up to 20%. You can find the recommended air pressure for your tires in the owner’s manual.

Automobile manufacturers have also provided their customers with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This is an electronic device installed on newer cars that monitors air pressure inside each individual wheel to help you identify under-inflated tires quickly.

Check For Leaks

Check for leaks around doors and windows every time it rains or snows. If water is getting into your car when it rains, then there could be damage happening underneath which can lead to rusting out of key areas like the floorboard and frame.

Make sure no debris has built up around door seals since clean weather stripping will allow rainwater to drain away from under your vehicle instead of pooling along its edges where mold spores begin growing if left unchecked.

Any time you take your car in for service, make sure to ask if they find any leaks. If the mechanic doesn’t inform you of this during a regular oil change or repair appointment and attempts to fix it on their own without telling you, tell them that’s not acceptable and speak with whoever is over the shop until someone agrees to call you before making any repairs that could be expensive. It might feel embarrassing but there are honest mechanics out there who will respect your wishes as long as you’re polite about voicing them.

Air Filter

Don’t forget to change your air filter at least once every year or every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you have allergies and drive a lot with the windows down during springtime like we do then it’s especially important that you check this frequently because pollen can clog up your engine over time if not allowed an escape route out through your vents. It only takes five minutes to replace but will prolong the life of your car by years.

Keep Your Car Clean

The last tip is to always keep your car clean on the inside and out. Not only does it make it look nicer, but a clean car is easier to diagnose problems with. If you see something wrong, take pictures of it and save them in a file on your computer for when you take your car in for service. This way, you have documentation of what needs to be fixed and can avoid being overcharged by mechanics who might try to tell you that everything needs repairing when only one or two things are actually wrong.

Following these easy steps will help keep your car healthy and running smoothly – saving you time and money in the long run!