Owning a car means having the freedom to go anywhere you please but it can be very expensive. So, do you want to know the secret to saving some bucks from your car expenses? It’s maintaining your car regularly and taking proper precautions so you avoid huge repair costs. Never delay your car maintenance so you don’t have to face potentially expensive repairs.
Here are some maintenance and driving tips to remember so you can thoroughly care for your car and save money in the long run:
Don’t miss out on oil change.
Oil issues can be very expensive and your mere $25 oil maintenance cost doesn’t even amount to the possible repercussion. Your oil change maintenance can’t replace the potentially huge amount you will have to pay for oil-related problems. Don’t wait for your engine to wear out before you change the oil. Make sure to change it every 5,000 miles (ca. 8,047 km) or according to your car manufacturer’s recommendation.
Check the overall suspension system of your car.
The suspension system of your car includes the springs, struts, and shocks, all of which you might be taking for granted. But these are very complicated parts that when they stop working, your whole ride is put to a stop. You can also take better care of your car’s suspension by avoiding road bumps and potholes as much as possible, keeping track of any sign of your car’s wear and tear, and making sure your tires are inflated all the time. Most importantly, don’t forget to have your automotive suspension checked regularly.
Get new brake pads.
Once you hit your brakes and hear squeaking, the issue might be in your brake pads, so replace them right away. They cost less than the price of a new set, which is $300 for every car, not to mention the professional’s charge of labor. To avoid this hefty amount, make sure to change your brake pads right away instead of replacing the whole brake set. However, you might need to change the whole brake system if the oil has turned to dark color every time you change the oil. Make sure to replace it as soon as possible.
Beware of having a flat tire.
You’re dealing with a flat tire once you hear a thumping or bumping sound from your car. If this happens, pull off to the side of the road. Driving on a flat tire can cause long-term damage to your car. But before you are caught in this situation, make sure that you have a working spare tire available. The last thing you want to ever happen is getting your tires flat then discovering that your spare tire is also flat.
In this case, you will need to call a tow truck that can cost several hundreds of dollars. It hurts knowing that you only need to spend a dollar for an air pump so you can inflate your tire rather than spend huge for a tow. To avoid such a scenario, make sure to test both your driving tires and spare tires at least once a month.
Keep your car’s battery clean.
Don’t wait until your car’s battery develops a white or bluish powder on its terminals for you to check it. Once these colors appear, the damage has already started. It’s crucial to check your batteries for corrosion. Corrosion on the terminals or connections can shorten the lifespan of your car, permanently damaging it or causing it to not start at all. Just as being stranded with a flat tire, you may need to have your car towed too.
Instead of spending all this much, a $5 brush will not hurt. Checking your battery should be at least twice a year. Make sure it doesn’t develop a crack and corrode.
Do the tire rotation hack.
All four tires of your car have different ways of wearing down and it depends on the kind of car you have, the roads you take, and your speed. You can do the trick even on new Nissan cars for sale. Most often, the front or back set of tires wear down at different rates, so rotating all four tires can extend their life. Rotating them now and then, you get to save $400 to $800, which could be the full cost if you buy a set of four.
Change your coolant often.
Not changing your car’s coolant often puts it at risk of serious inside-car corrosion. Coolants are the ones responsible for stopping the liquids from freezing when the climates go below zero and preventing overheating. They affect so many aspects of the car from the air conditioner to the water pump, so you should never skimp on their maintenance. Make sure to keep them checked twice a year.
Do all these maintenance checks every so often so you can spare yourself from possible huge costs in the long run.
