A car or truck is a sizeable investment. Whether you buy a new vehicle or a pre-owned model, you have the initial investment of the purchase price, plus registration and insurance and all the other costs that are associated with a vehicle purchase. It is important to protect your investment; insurance is designed to do this. However, regular and proper maintenance is the best thing you can do to protect your vehicle and make the most of your investment.
Oil Changes
Oil changes are the most frequent maintenance requirement for vehicles. For many years, the standard schedule for oil changes was three months or 3,000 miles, whichever came first. It could be difficult to remember to take care of oil changes without letting your vehicle go over on mileage. With the increased usage of synthetic oils and advances in automotive technology, however, the interval between oil changes has gotten greater. Many auto manufacturers recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles as long as you use a synthetic oil. Some automakers recommend changing synthetic oils every 15,000 miles (yes, that's not a typo!). Synthetic oil is more expensive, but it will pay for itself in several ways. Not only do you have to have your oil changed less often, synthetic oil is better for your engine. Your car will last longer and get better fuel mileage.
Tire Maintenance
As long as you keep the correct pressure in the tires, you are good to go, right? Well, almost. It is important to keep your tires inflated to the proper level. Back in the 1990s accidents happened due to incorrect tire inflation. However, proper tire pressure can increase your fuel mileage and save you money. You should also have your tires rotated and balanced when they need it. Most manufacturers recommend having this done every 10,000 miles. This will keep the wear even on all four tires, and help you get more miles out of each set of tires.
Other Considerations
Keep your car clean and a good coat of wax on it to protect the clearcoat and keep the paint from fading. This will keep your car looking new longer. You should also pay attention to your vehicle, and replace the small things as needed. Headlights, fog lights and windshield wipers are all minor parts with a low cost that don't get a lot of attention, but still need to be replaced.
Share20 November 2015
Understanding more about the type of car that you have can help you understand the best ways to maintain it, and how to tell if there’s trouble brewing under the hood before you end up stranded. That’s why, when I found a car make that I liked, I kept going back to it every time I bought a new car. It’s also why I use a mechanic that specializes in repairing and maintaining cars made by my specific manufacturer type. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about what makes this particular car work, and what kind of quirks come with this type of vehicle. I started this blog to share some of that information and help other car owners learn to effectively maintain their automobiles and recognize the potential signs of trouble.
