People 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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
