Don’t be fooled into thinking that the costs generated by a vehicle stop with the investment in the purchase itself. In fact, they go way beyond that. The fact is that expenses with taxes, insurance, fuel, and maintenance are unavoidable. But did you know that these expenses can increase or decrease according to some attitudes of the car owner?
In practice, car maintenance is a matter that goes beyond the guidelines given by automakers. Several day-to-day procedures are essential to save money on monthly car expenses. Want to know how to reduce car maintenance costs? Check out the following tips.
1. Perform preventive maintenance to reduce car maintenance costs
Before reducing expenses, it is necessary to find ways to avoid them, and preventive maintenance is one of them. Monitoring vehicles guarantee lower costs in general, both with fuel and possible repairs, accidents, etc.
Common procedures include lubrication, checking the brakes, checking oil and water levels etc.
2. Buy the right car oil to reduce car maintenance costs
Get the right oil for your car. In most cases, you can choose regular gas, but always check your car manufacturer’s recommendations for oil grade. If the viscosity grade is wrong, it can cause more friction, reducing gas mileage and even shortening the engine’s life.
3. Keep your tires calibrated to reduce car maintenance costs
Check your tires (including the spare tire) every 15 days. Check the value indicated by the assembler in the vehicle manual, on the tank cap, or one of the doors. And do not run with flat tires. Believe me: maintaining this habit correctly will make the tire rubber last much longer.
4. Align and balance the wheels
As tires are not very cheap items, you must prevent their excessive and uneven wear to increase their useful life. It is necessary to align and balance the wheels at least every 10 thousand kilometers driven. It’s also good to do these procedures whenever the car is stopped for any other type of maintenance or when the wheels suffer stronger impacts, even without visible damage.
5. Pay attention to the cooling system
You must keep the radiator with its reservoir filled to the right extent. A mixture of antifreeze fluid and water is responsible for keeping the engine at the ideal working temperature, preventing it from overheating and causing enormous inconvenience. Be sure to constantly observe the temperature indicator on the instrument panel and seek a workshop if you notice any changes.
6. Replace spark plugs and fuel filters
Keeping these components fresh will make the biggest difference to the car’s performance. Not to mention that changing the spark plugs and fuel filter (usually between 10 and 15 thousand kilometers) also reduces wear and prevents the accumulation of impurities caused by impaired burning, with sparks and low fuel quality.
7. Shop for auto parts from reliable dealers
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see auto parts dealers selling counterfeit parts. The materials and quality used in a counterfeit part are typically cheaper (lower quality). Although they may look similar or even identical to original parts, they often lack the same functionality, robustness, and durability when examined closely.
To avoid this risk, try to buy from large networks like Autopartsway Canada and Parts Train.
In conclusion
It’s not so difficult to minimize the cost of car maintenance. Just follow some basic recommendations that, in most cases, are already provided by the assemblers and service providers. Much of the savings you can make are within your reach, and it’s a matter of making good choices and engaging in small habit changes.