Car Maintenance For Less

Changing tires for different seasons isn't about fashion, it's about savings! Deep tread and big tires demand more fuel, and the extra power they pull isn't necessary in good weather when the roads are clear. Using winter tires out-of-season will also cause them to wear out sooner needlessly.

Keep all of your car repair receipts. If they are itemized, you will have a history of what maintenance you have had done to the car. This will help prevent unnecessary repairs in the future and also come in handy when you go to sell or trade-in the vehicle. Having a vehicle maintenance history may help you get a better re-sale price by showing that the car was well maintained.

If you live in a colder climate where they frequently use salt to keep the roads navigable, make sure you spray down the underside of your car whenever the temperatures rise above freezing. Salt is one of metal's worst enemies, and keeping your auto free from it will help extend its life.

Make a written list of the work you want done before visiting an auto mechanic and/or a specific description of the problem. Insist on a written estimate from the garage and that no repairs will begin without your authorization. If you aren't comfortable with the estimate and diagnosis of the problem, don't hesitate to get a second opinion (even if you have to have the car towed to another garage).

Be on the lookout for stains or spots underneath your parked car. These are warning signs that you have a leak of some kind, a common problem in older, higher-mileage engines. If you discover that you do have a leak, have it investigated immediately.

To save money on auto maintenance, try to handle simple tasks yourself. For example, try adding fluids, changing wiper blades, and even changing the oil. If you run up against something too difficult to tackle, consider bringing it to a local trade school or vo-tech section of a local high school. To give their students experience, sometimes they will only charge for parts, and the work is supervised by a qualified instructor.

Don't let habit be your reason for returning to the dealership where you bought your vehicle to have repairs done. There can often be a 10% difference or more on fees charged for the same repair at competing facilities. This is especially true when body repairs are concerned. Do your research, and be certain that you get quotes on identical goods and/or services (new parts, labor charges, etc.) so you can make a fair comparison.

New cars, like people, have their individual sounds and quirks, and as an owner, you learn quickly that not every little ping you hear is a disaster in the making. With an older vehicle, however, it's always a good idea to immediately check out any symptom -- sound, smell or feeling -- that seems even slightly abnormal. Early detection means early treatment and, hopefully, a less expensive fix.

Although oil companies and quick-lube shops would like you to think otherwise, it's not really necessary to change engine oil every 3,000 miles. Stick to the recommended oil change schedule that is printed in your vehicle's owner's manual. Under normal driving conditions, many cars can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes.

Make sure that your mechanic presents you with an itemized bill. Expenses should be broken down into parts and labor for each job that is performed. This is the only way to determine if you are getting a fair deal and to compare costs with other shops.

Periodic tire maintenance is inexpensive in the short term, and can save you big bucks in the long run. In addition to destroying the tread, improperly balanced tires can wear out your shock absorbers and damage your suspension system. All of these things contribute to poor vehicle performance and are likely to result in expensive repairs.

The right levels of fluid, such as coolant and automatic transmission fluid, ensures that your car can run efficiently. This will help you keep repairs to a minimum and may also save you money at the pump. It's also true that keeping car fluids at appropriate levels could save you the expense of having to replace car parts more often than necessary because there's more strain on those parts when fluid levels are extremely low.

When you drop your car off to be repaired, tell them that you want to keep any parts they replace (unless it's the transmission!). By establishing this point early in the process, you may be able to prevent them from recommending unnecessary repairs.