Preventative Car Maintenance and Fuel Filter Replacement Tips

As with health care, preventative car maintenance is the best thing you can do for those dependable vehicles that get you where you want to go every day.
With preventative car maintenance you might invest a little here and there, but in the end, you will always save yourself time, money and the aggravation that comes with ‘break-down’ surprises. Listed below are some additional reasons to get serious about preventative car care:
  • Safety is the #1 reason to invest a little of your hard earned dough in preventative car maintenance. Vehicles that are poorly maintained make it that much easier for you or one of your family members to get in an accident.
  • Increased performance. A well maintained car means improved fuel economy as well as a car that is easier to operate.
  • A well maintained car will also improve the trade-in or resale value of your vehicle.
  • Dependability and easy handling. A well maintained car means that you won’t have to worry about incorrect wheel alignment, worn tires and worn suspension components.
  • Pride. Many people agree that your car definitely represents a certain extension of your own personality. Take car of your car! Establish Car Maintenance Habits It is fairly simple to get into the habit of getting your oil changed every three months but it’s a bit more difficult to make those yearly check ups and replacements that every car needs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Related posts

5 Ways To Lower Your Car Maintenance Costs

I won’t show you charts and graphs of the economy to tell you that lowering your car maintenance costs will go a long way.  An ant once said to a grasshopper in a fable, “I’m saving for a rainy day.”

Does it feel like you did?Here are 5 ways to lower your car maintenance costs:Take note of your BLOWBAG – No, this isn’t the paper bag you breathe in and out of when you feel anxious about paying for car maintenance.  BLOWBAG stands for Battery, Lights, Oil, Water, Brakes, Air and Gas.  Properly keeping these in check will help you avoid paying for more in the long run.  Invest in a good brand for your battery\engine oil (preferably a synthetic one that helps with the friction).  An oil change can take up to $80+, air filters from $10+ and fuel filters from $25+ — which still beats hundreds of dollars in car repair.Keep the wheels turning – Keeping your tires in check if they are properly inflated/have the right tire pressure increases fuel economy.

Worn out, under-inflated tires on the other hand has your engine cranking a little bit more.  Make sure your treads still provide enough traction and that your tires are inflated to the right pressure, and increase your mileage by up to 3%.  (Everybody knows getting more mileage out of your gas = savings!)Suspension – A new suspension system for a car can cost up to hundreds and hundreds of dollars — it may even go as high as $2000 for the bigger cars.  The cost of suspension alignment?  Just above $70.  Who insures the insurance? – Taking up traffic school may be the biggest hit here — as insurance is inevitably going to be part of what you’ll always pay for when you get a car.  The cost of insurance could even go up by $100 per point in your driving record.

Read the rest of this entry »

Related posts

Scheduling Regular Car Maintenance Matters

One of the best things about buying a brand new car today is the fact that most do not require the rigorous maintenance schedule their siblings from the past survived on. Going in for oil changes every 3,000 miles is just no longer a part of the ownership experience for most. Still, new cars do need some attention or they will become old fast.

What should car owners do to make sure their vehicles get the attention they need? Why is it so important?

Read the rest of this entry »

Related posts