Do you need a few good car tips that will help you prevent expensive auto repairs?
Are you tired of spending a lot of money on your car?
It turns out,
Most of us spend $8,698 annually on our vehicle, including registration, insurance, licensing, repairs and fuel.
Here’s the deal,
Car costs can really add up, but they don’t have to. If you know how to prevent expensive repairs, you will find yourself saving a ton of money each year on your car.
Whether your car is large or small, old or new, you should always take preventive measures to preserve your vehicle. The better maintained your vehicle is, the better it will serve you.
Not only will a better maintained vehicle be more reliable, it will run cleaner, faster, and safer with proper car maintenance. You will also have a higher resale value if you maintain your car well.
We have prepared a list of car care tips that are easy for you to do, so that you can avoid expensive auto repairs. These tips should help you save money as well.
Preventative Car Maintenance
Preventative Maintenance (PM) is a routine of important regular service checkups. We’re talking about basic car repair and maintenance that consists of scheduled inspections, services and repairs that prolong the life of the car. Additionally, vigorous PM prevents potential problems, maximizing the car’s life.
PM tasks typically include following the maintenance guidelines set out in your vehicle’s car manual. Of course, you should always observe your vehicle’s operation for issues. In this way, you can catch issues early, making necessary adjustments and repairs before you have a larger problem.
Such maintenance includes a visual inspection of your car, checking for dents, damage, and anything else that looks out of the ordinary. Tasks also includes weekly and monthly checks of your vehicle, quarterly and annual fluid levels checks, and frequent inspections of all belts, oils, filters, tire pressure, spark plugs, and the battery, along with regular cleaning.
How you Can Actually Use PM to your Benefit
Preventive maintenance is used to proactively avoid or reduce vehicle breakdowns and accidents. Any work is done based on time, mileage, engine hours, and gallons of fuel used.
Bottom line?
Long term, preventive maintenance is probably one of the biggest ways you can save money on your car. By spending a little money now on the basics, you will surely save yourself from costly car repairs later.
Proper, routine car maintenance is vital for drivers, helping them avoid major repair bills and keeping their vehicles running reliably for many years.
Performance Tips
1. Tune-Up Your Car When Necessary
When it comes to proper car maintenance, keeping your car tuned up is one of the best things you can do for it. Not to mention, this is something that you can easily do yourself.
A vehicle consists of approximately four, six or eight spark plugs, which ignite the fuel in the engine cylinders, driving the pistons. After every 1,000 miles, these plugs have fired three million times, subjecting them to great heat and electrical discharge.
We recommend that you check your spark plugs every three months, and get a tune-up every 30,000 miles, or every two years.
When you properly tune the engine, it reduces gas consumption up to four percent per mile and up to 40 percent when major maintenance occurs. A weak spark can really reduce engine performance and waste fuel. That is to say, a properly tuned car runs efficiently, boosting engine performance. This will result in less gas consumption, saving you money over time. However, a weak spark can really reduce engine performance and cost you money.
So check the condition of your spark plugs at least twice a year, change them when needed, and keep your car properly tuned.
You will need the following tools to perform a tune-up: a ratchet and socket set, screwdrivers, a torque wrench, spark plug gap tool, and spark plug socket.
2. Add A High Pressure Radiator Cap to Your Vehicle
The cooling system in your car removes heat from the engine, and disposes of it in a device that radiates heat out of the system. The radiator’s job is to keep the temperature in the engine down through the use of antifreeze. Improper adjustment of your radiator can lower the fuel efficiency. To improve you car’s performance, you can add a high pressure radiator cap to your vehicle.
The best part?
Radiator caps are easy to locate and replace.
Performance radiator caps boost vehicle performance because they can handle the higher temperature of engines before boiling point. They also add a hint of class to your vehicle’s engine.
Furthermore, they are an important part of your cooling system, because they ensure the efficiency of your cooling system, by regulating the amount of pressure in your cooling system at all times. To make this modification, all you need is a performance radiator cap.
3. Lighten Your Load
If you lighten your car, it will increase the performance of the engine and also reduce gas consumption. This is an easy car care practice. In my opinion, except for emergency items like a spare tire, a first-aid kit and car related tools, your car should be kept completely empty. A light load will also help you drive faster.
So, open the trunk and get that extra stuff out of your car!
4. Check and Replace Your Air Filters
As you may know, your car has many filters, each with an important job. However, there are two air filters that you should check regularly and replace them as needed. They are your cabin and engine filter. These basic car tips for maintenance all drivers should practice.
When air filters fill with dust, bugs, or dirt, any blockage reduces engine performance. So, when you replace a dirty filter with a new one, you will increase the performance of your engine.
Whenever you change the oil in your car, you should also check the condition of the air filters. Specialists say that you should change air filters every year.
You should know how to check your filters regularly, and change them as needed.
Changing filters is a no brainer, once you locate them in the vehicle.
The best part?
You don’t need any tools to change your Air Filter and you only need a screwdriver to change you cabin filter.
5. Keep Your Car Emissions System In Check
There is a computerized fuel control system in the engine which is responsible for many tasks, like reducing carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides, and capturing hydrocarbons in the exhaust that weren’t burned. The EGR valve, catalytic converter, air pump, PCP valve, and charcoal canister are some of the most common emission system parts that you are familiar with. They all work together to remove toxic fumes from the engine.
Also, it stops dangerous vapors from escaping the fuel tank. It keeps the engine clean and running smoothly when the car is idling. Additionally, the emission system increases fuel efficiency with an oxygen sensor, that improves gas consumption by 40% per mile.
Be aware of changes to the sound of the engine, and repair any breaks in the exhaust pipes and manifold immediately, so you’re not wasting money on fuel.
6.Driving Style: Practice Good Driving Habits
Among the car tips and tricks you should consider is your driving style, because it can effect your car’s performance. Good driving contributes to good performance and bad driving can cause performance issues. While driving, try to stay near speed limits, while avoiding hasty increases or decreases in speeds.
Here’s the deal.
Bad driving increases fuel consumption.
You’ll save fuel if you look further ahead on the road and anticipate what the next intersection looks like.
For example:
Try to complete different errands in one trip; it will help you to save additional miles and time. Plan your route, making a big loop from your home to work, the store, the garage, etc. and back home. You’ll save more if you limit use of the air conditioning in the Summer; you shouldn’t need a sweater when it’s on! Always park your car in the shade; it will keep your car cool on a sunny day.
Note that aggressive driving increases fuel consumption 33 percent while driving on highways, and five percent while driving in the city. However, if you like to speed, the article How to Drive Fast and Avoid Speeding Tickets may interest you.
7. Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
You should check the tire pressure of your car monthly, as it also affects gas consumption. If the tires are not at the proper pressure, it will increase resistance while rolling on the road, making the engine work harder to move the vehicle, consuming more fuel.
This tip applies more in the winter, because a tire usually looses pressure due to seasonal change.
Most importantly,
A tire can lose half of its pressure and not look flat.
So check on your car’s tire pressure. Also, you should also know the proper tire pressure for your car. You will find the correct tire pressure in your vehicle’s manual, if it is not printed on the sidewall of the tires. Make sure you keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle. It’s always good to have one handy, as you will never know when you need one until you do.
8. Properly Tighten Your Gas Cap
A loose gas cap allows gas to evaporate, which will waste gas and lower the fuel economy.
So, always check whether the gas cap is closed properly or not. As you can already see, these are real car tips that will ensure you’re not wasting money.
9. Do Preventive Maintenance on Your Fuel System
You have to maintain the fuel system to maintain your car’s performance.
Your fuel system has a fuel filter that removes impurities from the fuel before they get to the engine. It is important to change the fuel filter periodically, since dirt and small particles can build up and get stuck in the filter. For preventive maintenance, you should change your fuel filter every 20,000 to 40,000 miles, or every 2 to 4 years. You should also flush your fuel injectors every 30,000 miles.
A bad fuel filter could make your engine light go on, or cause the car to cut out on an incline, due to restricted fuel flow. If it gets clogged or dirty, it will reduce the amount of fuel flowing to the engine and affect the fuel economy and performance.
As a result, you will waste money.
In summary, if you properly maintain your fuel system, you will save yourself from expensive repairs by ensuring that your fuel system can properly do its job and keep your car running smoothly.
10. Fill Up, but Not too Much
Remember, while filling up, your car should not be running.
It may cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Don’t ever fill the tank completely; it will create vapors which are harmful for the environment. Your tank wants some extra space because gasoline expands and contracts based on the outside temperature.
According to some environmental activists, some pumps draw back the vapors from tank to protect the environment, but you’ll pay more and get less gas.
11. Test Your AC Year Round & Limit Your Use in the Summer
This is car tip for summer maintenance. Make sure that you keep an eye on the condition of your air conditioner, on yearly basis, and know whether it is working properly or not. In this way, you will be ready for the Summer heat.
Rather than run the air conditioner, try to use the windows to keep your car cool.
Limit the use of your AC in the summer to save fuel, and parking in the shade to keep it cool, and using your windows rather than running your AC.
12.Know Your Car Manual Before You Start Maintenance & Repairs
If you really want to be knowledgeable about car repair and maintenance for your auto, the first step you need to take is to Read Your Owner’s Manual.
Your car manual has a wealth of useful information, customized for your vehicle.
Bottom Line?
You should know it well.
It covers all the systems, devices, and features in the car, and should be your first source when you need to know what preventative maintenance your vehicle needs.
If you really want to be informed about your vehicle, after you have read through your Owner’s Manual, we recommend that you pick up a Car Guide or Automotive Repair Manual.
Two notable repair manual publishers are Chilton and Haynes.
The best part?
They base their manuals on a complete tear-down and rebuild of each vehicle. They offer detailed instructions, with photos and exploded views, divided in sections based on car systems and sections.
Each manual is thorough and in-depth. Every component, every possible repair or maintenance project is explained, for several model years of that car.
Anyone who is serious about doing work on their own cars needs a repair guide for their car. Get one if you really want to understand your car’s systems. They will save you thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle.
Most importantly,
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Investing a Little In Your Car Now, Can Save You a Lot More Later
Affordable Car Projects hopes you enjoyed our best car tips, and put them to good use. With proper maintenance and care, you can maximize your engine’s performance and fuel economy. Additionally, these general car tips will help you avoid major repair bills and keep your car running reliably for many years. These tips will surely help you maintain your car in good condition. You will also have a higher trade in or resale amount. That’s something all car drivers should care about in the coming years.
Whether you do the work yourself or hire a trained mechanic, our car advice and tools will empower you to go the distance and save money along the way.
Let us know what you think of our car tips and maintenance tricks in the comment section below.
Are you going to check you gas cap and tire pressure to make sure that you’re not wasting needless money?
Are you going to boos’t your cars performance with a performance radiator cap?
Either way leave a quick comment in the section below.
