Penny Pinching: 4 Tips For Saving Money On Maintenance
Friday, March 3, 2017, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
A lot of car owners tend to overlook the maintenance needs of their car.
Many believe that as long as the engine starts and the vehicle has enough fuel then there’s nothing to worry about.
However, a running vehicle does not guarantee that it is in good shape. Regular maintenance is the only way you can make sure that your car keeps running smoothly and prevent serious damages.
Preventive maintenance can sometimes be pricey but car repairs usually costs more.
Also, there are ways you can lessen maintenance costs unlike necessary car repairs.
Here are four tips you can follow to save money on maintenance.
-
Mind The Oil
A common notion among car owners is that you have to change your oil every 3,000 miles.
However, this is only applicable to old cars that were manufactured around the 70s.
Apart from better oil products nowadays, current car manufacturing standards have gotten better allowing engines to withstand the pressures of use.
Consult your vehicle’s manual to know how often you should change your oil. Some cars don’t need it until 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Hold off changing your oil to save money.
Keep in mind though that older engines tend to burn more oil so you may have to change oil and filter more often.
Also, don’t invest in high-mileage oil. It is far more expensive but is not much superior to conventional oil.
-
Do It Yourself
There are a lot of maintenance tasks that you can do by yourself such as checking the fluid levels and changing oil, filters, and spark plugs.
You can even follow online tutorials for a step by step walkthrough of some common maintenance tasks. This way, you’re saving money on mechanic labor fees.
If a part needs replacing, you can find supplies online for a cheaper price compared to auto parts stores.
However, if you’re not mechanically handy, it might be better to leave the maintenance tasks to the professionals.
Otherwise, you might damage the car, leading to expensive car repairs when you were trying to save money.
-
Opt For Local Shops
When it comes to mechanical services, you have the option of visiting either local shops or national chains.
Many car owners tend to gravitate towards national chains, believing that their service is better and more credible.
However, local shops can provide the same level of service and often for a cheaper price. Try to Google local shops in your area using keywords such as, “auto body repair Park City,” to obtain a comprehensive list of local shops with ratings and feedback. Local shops are also better at forming client relationships.
The more you visit a particular shop, the more they’ll know your vehicle. They will be better at taking care of your car and may even offer necessary preventative care.
-
Educate Yourself
Even if you plan to visit a mechanic to fix your car or to conduct regular maintenance, you still have to educate yourself about how a car works.
If something’s wrong with your car, try to diagnose the problem yourself. Or at least, you should be able to clearly define the problem to the mechanic.
Otherwise, they might charge you a higher price simply for diagnosing the problem.
Also, search for fair maintenance rates before visiting a shop to make sure that the mechanic will not take advantage of your inexperience.
Don’t wait until your car shows warning icons or makes unusual noises before you start taking care of it. Chances are, your car is already in need of expensive repairs by then.
Conduct regular maintenance instead to lessen the costs and to prevent serious damage.
Throw us a like at Facebook.com/doable.finance
