Are You Wasting Money On Your Car?

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Telesis

Here are 5 practical tips for saving money (and time) on auto maintenance and minor auto repairs.

Change your oil less often.
It used to be that auto manufacturers recommended getting your oil changed every 3 months or 3 thousand miles, whichever came first. Nowadays, with improved oils and modern engines that operate at high heat with close tolerances, it is not necessary to change your oil as often. Ford and GM officially extended their oil change interval recommendations in March 2007 to every 7,500 miles. In general car manufacturers typically suggest 5,000 miles, 7,500 miles or even longer between oil changes. Some car markers now include oil-life monitors that tell you when the oil is dirty — sometimes as long as 15,000 miles. It’s best to check with your car manufacturer (not your mechanic) too see what oil change interval they recommend.

Use the factory’s maintenance schedule instead of the dealer’s.
Adhere to the Manufacturer’s Recommended Service & Maintenance Schedule unless your car is not running well. The old adage that says “don’t fix it unless it’s broke” holds true here. If your engine doesn’t hesitate or make other odd noises – no need to change out the spark plugs, wires or air filter until the manufacturer says so. The place to find the Manufacturers Maintenance Schedule is in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have the “paper” version here’s a link to find a digital version www.edmunds.com

Go independent.

Whether it’s an oil change or Manufacturer Recommended Maintenance, remember there is no need to bring your car to the dealer, there are many qualified independent shops who can perform these services for less. According to a study done by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), repairs cost an average of 34 percent more at new car dealerships compared to the independent repair shops, for a total “extra” cost of $11.7 billion a year.

Use regular instead of premium.

With prices at the $4.00 a gallon mark again, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. Still many drivers think because their owners’ manual recommends premium, they’ll get better fuel economy if they stick with it. If your car does take premium, look to see whether the manufacturer “recommends” premium fuel or if it “requires” it. If it’s only a recommendation (as it will be in most cases), you can safely use regular unleaded fuel; however, you may take a small hit on performance. If your engine knocks or pings when using regular gas, you may need to move up a grade.

DIY.

Try doing some minor car maintenance yourself. In most cars replacing the air filter or wiper blades is an easy 15-minute task. If you are more mechanically inclined and have the time, there are many other basic maintenance tasks that can be done (like changing your spark plugs, or oil), and with online access to DIY car maintenance videos and sites it couldn’t be simpler!