Cheap Ways To Maintain Your Car

Purchasing a vehicle is easy, the tough part comes later. Time to look after and maintain your car, before it groans, grunts, fumes and finally stops. It is natural to encounter problems such as leaks, engine noise, air conditioner malfunction, gear fault, etc. If you manage to spend some time and effort with your car regularly, these tips will prolong the life of your car, and ensure a smooth and effortless drive.

Car Guide
Before you start on repairs, locate your owner's manual, which comes with your repair or service guide, which is sold at dealerships and manufacturing stores. Leaf through it for guidance about the parts you might need, or whether the manufacturer recommends that you leave a particular task to the dealer.

Prevention Is Cheaper than Cure
When you car gives out signals that something is wrong, attend to it immediately. For example, a jerky ride, weird noises, burning rubber smell etc. Trace the cause immediately, and if you are unable to find out what is wrong, do not hesitate to call your local mechanic. By acting early you can fix minor defects, before they turn big and save on a lot.

Take Your Car To The Doctor
A visit to the mechanic once or twice a year will be useful, since they can tackle problems like an oil change or battery replacement easily, which are more challenging at home. If you need to get any of the parts replaced, go only for the original. Local parts maybe cheaper but will adversely affect the performance of your car.

Tune Your Car
Car tuning means getting the best performance out of your car. A well tuned car, has a fuel consumption from 25% to 33%, lesser than a poorly tuned car. Tuning your car for better performance can save you between $150 and $250 per year.

Brake Easy
Sudden braking because of aggressive driving, puts a lot of pressure on the breaks. Apply the breaks gently and you will save a ton on repair. For your personal safety, it is mandatory that you keep the breaks of your car in perfect condition. If you decide to replace breaks on your own, they will be much cheaper. You can find front brake pads starting at $25 for $23. Whereas going to the mechanic can cost you $400 or more. However replacing the breaks requires specific tools, even including the cost of the tools you will find it to be cheaper than going to the mechanic.

Change The Oil
The oil must be changed every 3000 miles. This will extend your engine's life and you will save big on engine parts. The saving will be from $500 -$3000. You again need specific tools to change the oil, if you are planning to do it from home. So it is best to compare and see which is more cost effective.

Wiper Treatment
Do your wiper blades squeak or leave behind streaks? it's time to get them replaced. They can cost as less as $10, and it is cost effective to do it by yourself.

Replacing The Air Filter
Often, the air filter gets blocked up with dirt and dust. It reduces the engine's life and absorbs more gas. Check the air filter regularly, and blowing it with a hose works wonders.

Antifreeze
Check your car's antifreeze, and make sure it is at the right level. This is very important if you want to keep your engine in top condition. You can purchase a bottle of antifreeze, for a small amount and pour into your engine as per instructions.

Tires
Inflated tires can burn up to 6% more gas, so regularly check the tire pressure.

Cleaning Your Car
Wash your car at least once a month, some stains can become permanent if not washed in time. Make sure to use a pressure wash, to wash out stains, in hard to reach places. Wash all the dirt in the windshield, any particles left out on the windshield will get caught by the windshield wipers blades, and scratches the windshield when the wipers are operating.

Wax
Waxing your car has many benefits, not only does it makes your car shine like a new one, but also protects it from harsh climates and prevents fading. It also helps to slow down the corroding process. Cleaning and waxing your car will not just make your car look cool, but helps prevent bigger problems from arising.

Do it Yourself
Small things like fixing a crack on your window, mending small dents or taking care of scratches can add up, if taken to the mechanic. So doing these by yourself is the cheaper alternative. You can read up your car's user guide or search the Internet in detail, regarding this.