Expensive Confessions Of a Car Care Slacker
Smart Cookie Angela shares her guide to how simple car maintenance can save you hundreds. You can also check out her full story in this week’s Globe and Mail. And you can check out all of Ang’s sweet Globe and Mail columns here!
When I was car owner, I was spending close to $600 a month on car payments, gas, parking and insurance. The “car ” line item in my spending plan took up the second largest portion of my monthly income. One thing I didn’t spend much on, though, was maintenance for my car. My car seriously lacked the TLC it required, and apparently so do a lot of other cars on the road.
There’s a fuel-saving tip that advises you to plan out your route so you only have to make right turns, allowing you to save gas by avoiding long stop lights. I know that car costs eat up a good chunk of our monthly expenses, and every little bit of savings helps, but who has time to do this? Seriously.
So go ahead, get crazy and make all the left hand turns your heart desires! And instead focus on the smart investment you can make in the maintenance of your sweet ride. According to Car Care, results from last year’s inspection events found 85 per cent of cars needed some form of maintenance work. Some of the most common problems were low engine oil, dirty air filters and low tire pressure. Taking care of the simple things yourself can mean avoiding significant costs down the road.
Tire Pressure
Making the effort every month to check tire pressure is apparently one of the most important car check-ups to perform. You can improve gas mileage by maintaining proper pressure and prolong the life of your tires. If you’ve never checked the pressure yourself, there are a lot of online how-to videos to help you out.
Another common area of neglect is not replacing a clogged air filter or keeping your vehicle fluids topped up and clean. I have been guilty of pushing my luck a few times and driving well after the change-oil light came on. Repeatedly waiting for the light to come on could lead to major repairs, even an engine rebuild. An unnecessary expense like that could cost upward of a few thousand dollars if you don’t opt for a $50 oil change at the right time.
Book a Date With Your Mechanic
Taking action and following a service schedule can avoid some expensive headaches. Before you head out for your road trip this long weekend, it might be smart to take a peek to make sure you’re covered. The site will also explain what you can do yourself and when it’s smart to hire a professional.
For a lot of people, a good mechanic whom you trust is hard to find. Referrals are a great way to go. If you can’t find adequate referrals from friends or family, start your search here.
We throw a lot of money every month into vehicles and they are significant investments to maintain. If your car is in need of a little loving, then it’s best to give it today, to make sure you’re getting the most of what you put your money into tomorrow.
Hungry for more? Check out these other Smart Cookie Approved car tips:
