10 Life Hacks to Save on Car Maintenance
Don’t Change the Oil More Than You Have To
In the not so distant past, the rule was you have to change your oil every 3000 miles. At the time, this was very sound advice. Things have changed since then though. Both engines and oils have advanced to the point that such frequent changes are no longer needed. You’re perfectly fine sticking to what’s recommended in the manual, or a little more often. And when it's time to get the oil changed, look for oil change coupons on the web to help you save.
Opt for Synthetic
Synthetic oils are of course more expensive. However, there are other things to consider than just the cost of the oil change. Seeing as they last longer, you have to come in far less. This means you can often end up spending less money overall. Especially when you consider the time and hassle of getting to the garage or doing it on your own.
Do Your Own Maintenance
Yes, it can seem scary. But, a lot of car maintenance is also very simple. In fact, some things are no more difficult than changing a tire. With the advent of forums and Youtube, you can find instructions on how to do exactly what it is you need to do. Often from several different people. Some simple things to start on are oil changes and changing your rear shocks.
Shop Around for a Garage
Different garages can sometimes charge wildly different prices for the same service. A good rule of thumb with anything in life is to get three quotes before you make a decision. You can sometimes save yourself hundreds of dollars just by making a few calls.
Stay Loyal
Once you find a garage it can be a good idea to stick with them. Be loyal and friendly as they’ll sometimes take this into account when giving you a quote for their work. This, of course, will work better with smaller, locally owned garages.
Only Do What You Need To
Everyone is trying to make money, garages included. Some of them will recommend services you really don’t need. Always google a service they recommend beforehand to make sure it’s something you actually require. If you find your garage is consistently recommending things you don’t need, find another one.
Stay on Top of it
Yes, some maintenance is very expensive or time-consuming to do. But leaving it is often more expensive. If left long enough it will lead to catastrophic failure of major engine components. Which will turn that hundred dollar bill into a thousands of dollars bill.
Keep Your Tires Inflated
Keeping your tires inflated to the appropriate level doesn’t just help maintain good fuel economy. It also makes sure they wear evenly. This means you’ll have to replace them far less often. It can also have the added benefit of helping to reduce accidents by improving grip. Which will also save you money.
Drive Smoother
It won’t just make people judge you less. Smooth acceleration and braking are also far easier on your car. The engine will have to work less overall, saving wear and tear on nearly everything connected to it. The smoother breaking will also save your pads and tires while improving fuel economy as well.
Get a Code Reader
Individuals can now purchase the machines that read the maintenance codes for vehicles. Depending on your vehicle, it can cost less than $100. These machines will give you a diagnostic code which you can look up and find out exactly why the check engine light is on. This can prevent costly trips to the dealer that didn’t need to happen.