Cars are a thing of beauty, and for most, a necessity. In cities where public transportation is not available, a car will take you everywhere you need to go. While the vehicles themselves are a major purchase, preventative car maintenance doesn’t have to be. Having a good routine and schedule for car maintenance will save you loads of cash in the long run. Continue reading to learn more.
First and foremost, make sure to refer to the owner’s manual of your car for exact timing of services. However, in regards to a good preventative car maintenance schedule, there are usually 6 categories:
• Oil changes
• Air filters
• Battery and terminals
• Car fluids
• Belts
• Tires
We’ll discuss each portion in detail below. It’s amazing the number of times a member has come into an Achieva branch to refinance their vehicle and they mention that they are preparing the car for service. They consider their car an investment and routinely use a system of preventative maintenance to prolong its longevity.
Regular oil changes are vital for the function of your vehicle. The owner’s manual will provide information on the type of oil your car needs and how frequently it needs changing. Oil lubricates the engine and absorbs heat, allowing the internal parts to work together effectively without overheating.
When your air filter is dirty, your engine is forced to work harder, resulting in poor fuel economy, higher emissions and, possibly, a loss of engine power. Most replacements of cabin air filters can be done without the need of a professional. Additionally, it’s recommended to change your car’s air filters at least once a year. Adding this to your routine of preventative car maintenance will save money and allow your car to “breathe”.
Most batteries these days don’t require advanced maintenance, but you should know where it is and how to make sure it’s not leaking. Furthermore, it’s best to regularly check for mineral or other buildups on the terminals. Minor corrosion can lead to a loss of power and even mechanical malfunction. This is why most people review their battery at the same time as their oil changes.
If you plan on keeping your vehicle for a while, it’s wise to change the transmission oil, coolant and even power steering and brake fluid. Some of these services are easier when conducted by a professional. Familiarize yourself by learning how to check the levels of these fluids and you’re be driving smoothly for years to come.
A vehicle’s belts are essential to its function but many disregard them until their car breaks down. “You don’t want to be stranded because of a bad belt that could have been diagnosed with simple preventative maintenance,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. The typical serpentine belt replacement is at 60,000 miles and a V-belt replacement is at 40,000 miles. Be sure to reference your owner’s manual for specifics.
Properly inflated tires are critical to your car’s ability to drive safely. Adding to this, under-inflated tires are one of the biggest causes of using excess fuel. That’s an expense that can add up quickly due to a lack of preventative maintenance. Make sure to do a visual inspection of your tires every time you drive.
The benefits of preventative car maintenance outweigh the expense of vehicle neglect. By understanding the 6 parts of a car maintenance routine above, you’ll not only save money but also spend many years enjoying your vehicle.
What are automotive air filters? Automotive air filters are mechanical devices that are installed into combustion engines to help prevent noise, dust, and other particles from entering the combustion chamber. While automotive filters are primarily thought of when it comes to vehicles such as cars and trucks, they can also be found in motorcycles and other types of vehicles that use engines. Filters can be electronic or mechanical, but in general there is a device that fits over the entire engine and inside of an engine bay to catch pollutants before they reach the intake manifold of the engine.
Automotive filters come in a variety of different materials, sizes, shapes, and uses. What is most important to an individual is the quality and performance of the filter that they purchase. Filters are designed to remove contaminants from the air that is breathed by the driver of the vehicle. Many individuals are not sure if the vehicle that they own has enough filters on it, but it is recommended that any vehicle have the proper amount of filters for the model of vehicle that it drives. This will help to ensure that the vehicle performs properly, as well as to keep the air that is breathed inside of the vehicle clean and pure.
The cost of automotive air filters can vary greatly depending on what the particular size is of filter that is needed for the vehicle. Filters can be more expensive than other parts of the vehicle, but there are ways to save money on these filters. Many people who drive a lot choose to purchase a multitude of automotive air filter kits so that they do not need to purchase a filter each time that they bring their vehicle in for service. This is a great way to save money in the long run and to make sure that the air is always clean and pure inside of the car.
Another way to save money on automotive air filters is to purchase the filter that is specific to the model of car that you own. This is a great way to cut down on the overall cost of the filter and to increase the amount of money that you can save. This can really help to get those expensive repairs and maintenance that your car may need, avoided.
There are many places that an individual can purchase automotive air filters. There are online stores that sell various kinds of filters, and there are also places that sell them from brick and mortar stores. Many people like to shop online when looking for automotive filters, because it allows them to find a variety of prices that they can compare before making a large purchase. They can also read reviews about certain filters to see what people think about the filters that they are purchasing. This can help to narrow down the choices that a person has when it comes to purchasing the right type of filters for their vehicle.
If an individual is looking for a way to save money on automotive air filters, they should consider buying them in bulk. Bulk purchases are usually less expensive than individual purchases, because the retail stores that carry them buy them in large quantities. Buying automotive filters in bulk can help to reduce the cost of the filters, and to increase the amount of money that you can save. Many individuals purchase filters for their vehicles at the time of their purchase, but this isn’t always the best option. By shopping for them in bulk, a person can often purchase the filters for much less than they would pay at the time of purchase.