Subject: To keep your car running smoothly
To keep your car running smoothly
Eric Peters
eople are understandably worried about the gloomy economy and trying to avoid
any unnecessary expenses. When it comes to your vehicle, there are some aspects
of car maintenance that you might think you can skimp on to save money, but
don’t. Cutting corners or postponing maintenance actually can cost you more
money in the long run. What you should never skimp on...
Oil. Buy the grade of oil that meets the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended
American Petroleum Institute (API) or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
service rating, which is indicated in the owner’s manual.
Using lower-grade oil may damage your engine. It also could invalidate your
warranty coverage if you have a contested oil-related engine problem and you
can’t prove that the vehicle was serviced according to the manufacturer’s
requirements.
In addition, be sure that the oil filter you use meets the vehicle
manufacturer’s requirements, as specified by the owner’s manual or the dealer.
Helpful: Keep all receipts related to servicing your car, including those for
oil and filter changes, so that you can prove your car was serviced according
to the manufacturer’s specifications.
If you know how to do it, changing the oil and filter yourself is the least
expensive approach. But not everyone likes to do that -- or wants to deal with
the mess of disposing of the old oil and filter.
Mechanics and independent shops generally are less expensive than having the
work done by the car dealer.
Regardless of who does the job, check the dipstick afterward to confirm that
the oil level is between the low and high marks. Some places have been known to
overfill or underfill the crankcase.
Oil changes. It might seem that stretching out the time between the
manufacturer’s maximum recommended oil change interval is a good way to
economize, but it’s not. It can accelerate wear and tear on your engine. I
recommend erring on the side of caution -- and always trying to change the oil
at the prescribed interval. You probably won’t hurt the engine if you miss the
mileage/date interval by a little bit -- for example, up to a month or about
200 to 300 miles -- but don’t go longer than that.
Radiator service. The key to a well-performing radiator is the quality of
coolant, the liquid that runs through it. Old or contaminated coolant can ruin
an engine by causing corrosion or rust, especially because many engines today
are made of alloy, not cast iron. It also can lead to overheating, which in a
modern engine with aluminum cylinder heads (which warp more easily than cast
iron) risks serious damage.
Check the condition of the coolant in your radiator -- or have a competent
mechanic check it for you -- at least every two years regardless of the
advertised shelf life of the coolant. This is easy: When the engine is cold,
open the radiator cap and take a look. (Touching the cap when it is hot is
dangerous -- taking the cap off the pressurized system can result in a spray of
coolant.)
Fresh coolant appears bright green or orange-red (if it’s the "long-life" type)
and translucent, not cloudy. Coolant should never look dirty. If it does, there
is a problem with the coolant or something else in the engine -- and this
should be checked immediately.
Wise: Periodically have a mechanic open the radiator cap when the engine is
cold to check the fill level. Looking at the translucent coolant overflow tank
is not as effective. These tanks often are discolored, and the level is hard to
gauge accurately, especially if the car is more than a few years old.
Any loss of coolant is cause for further investigation. Catching problems both
big (a failing head gasket) and small (a minor, pinhole-type leak) can help
avert a major, and expensive, breakdown.
Wiper blades. For the sake of visibility and safety, don’t skimp on replacing
your wiper blades. Blades should be replaced as soon as they no longer clear
the glass without causing streaks. Wiper blades typically last about six months
but sometimes wear out much sooner if subjected to harsh conditions. Brutal
summer sun and rough, ice-encrusted winter windshields are especially hard on
wiper blades.
Car washes. It’s false economy to not wash your car. Keeping your car clean
helps prevent rust and maintains the paint’s shine, which aids the resale value
at trade-in time. If you have the time to wash your car yourself, you’ll save
money. But if you don’t have time, it’s worth paying to have it done for you.
Regular unleaded vs. premium gas. If your car requires premium gas (as
indicated in your owner’s manual), do not use regular (or even midgrade) gas.
You probably won’t hurt your car’s engine, but your mileage will suffer and you
will have lower horsepower output. To accommodate the lower-octane gas, the
engine will perform in the midrange -- it won’t run poorly, nor will it run at
its absolute best.How to save: If your owner’s manual merely recommends premium
gas, you can save money by using regular gas, which typically is at least 20 to
30 cents less per gallon. You might not get all the horsepower your engine is
capable of delivering, but this is something you may not miss. You might suffer
a slight mileage drop that could eat away at the savings at the pump, so
compare mileage when running on regular and premium gas to see whether using
premium is worth it.
Save on Tires
There is one easy way to save money on car maintenance -- tires. When it’s time
to replace a vehicle’s tires, many people simply return to the dealer and buy
the original brand of tires that came from the factory. That’s often expensive
-- and not necessary.
What you might not know: Prices for high-quality tires vary -- tremendously.
You can potentially save hundreds of dollars by buying the same general type of
tire -- such as all-season, high-performance, touring, etc. -- but a different
brand and/or model. Just make sure that your new tires meet the minimum
requirements for load (the weight the tire is designed to carry), heat and
traction ratings recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Prices also can vary by season. High-performance summer tires, for instance,
often go on sale in the fall. In addition, it is sometimes possible to realize
tremendous savings by purchasing tires from online retailers, such as The Tire
Rack (www.tirerack.com), where you also can read reviews of tire models by
customers. Be sure to factor in the cost of shipping the tires, as well as the
cost of having them mounted and balanced.
Helpful: Have your tires rotated regularly. A good rule of thumb is every
3,000 to 5,000 miles. People often forget that this basic service helps ensure
that tires last as long as possible. Many tire shops do it for free if you buy
the tires from them or have the tires mounted there
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