Keeping your engine maintained can prevent trips to your neighborhood mechanic with problems you do not expect and out of pocket expenses that could be prevented.
One of the easiest things to check off the top of the list is your oil. You oil should be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles depending on your vehicle and your owners manual should indicate how often. With the oil being changed the oil filter needs to be renewed as well. If you own an older vehicle with more mileage, you may want to check with your mechanic for more frequent changes.
Tune Ups are just as important. This is simply making sure your hoses are still good, spark plugs are sparking and the belts are not wearing. This preventive maintenance can save you time broken down on the road and even better gas mileage. When you go in to have your oil changed, consider taking a little extra time to have the tune up done too or do it yourself it you know how.
What is your mileage on the car? Are you over 60,000 miles on the speedometer? If so you are not driving a new car any longer and may notice it does not idle as it used to and may have some hiccups here and there. These may be little signs of some wear on the engine and should be addressed.
Not only does our engine need attention but also what is underneath the vehicle. Your tire pressure should be checked from weekly to monthly depending on how often you drive. The wrong tire pressure and wear can cause you to get less miles to the gallon. Check for wear on the tires and have them rotated, as well as check the alignment of your vehicle as this too can cause the tires to wear faster if not aligned correctly.
Taking a little extra time from your day here and there to maintain your vehicle can save you money in the long run and who wants to sit on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when this could have been prevented.
Photo Courtesy of rukawajung at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Budget Bi-Rite Insurance, Inc 