Minimize Costs with Routine Car Maintenance
Every car owner has, or will, experience that gut-wrenching feeling when an auto mechanic hands them a written estimate that is roughly the length of an average doctoral thesis. Eventually all mechanical parts wear out, but keeping up with routine car maintenance will ensure that problems will be less often, less costly, and less of an inconvenience. Taking good care of a car by maintaining it's mechanical integrity will add tens of thousands of miles to the life of an average vehicle, improve resale value, and at the minimum give the car's owner peace of mind that the vehicle is safe to operate. Best of all, good maintenance does not require one to be a "car guy", just someone with common sense and a keen eye.If a car owner has a new car, preventative maintenance is as simple as following the recommended maintenance scheduled in the owner's manual. If driving a used car, it is a reasonably simple task to set up and follow an individual maintenance schedule, either on your own or with the assistance of a trusted mechanic or knowledgeable friend. The main objective in either case being that a car is safe to operate, mechanically dependable, and future repairs will be minimal because of good preventative maintenance. The cost of regular maintenance is a minor consideration, $20 or $30 spent here and there can go a long way if you or an acquaintance can perform the task.A monthly ritual of inspecting your car closely will only take minutes, and may save money and lives. Check tires for undue wear and walk around the car to look for fluid leaks. Inspect turn signals, headlights, brake lights and windshield wipers to may certain they are operational. Pop the hood and examine fluid levels for transmission, brakes, oil, and coolant, and top off those that are low. Look at belts for wear or fraying, and examine the tension to ensure it is correct. Check filters to make certain they are in good condition, and be especially diligent in examining electrical wiring - one bad wire can mean a tow truck call at 2 AM. Keep a small notebook and pen in the glove box to serve as a maintenance log, and with each replaced item take note.Something as seemingly as minor as a low oil or transmission fluid level can detract years from the life of an automobile, or in the worst case cause a total replacement of the motor or transmission, resulting in thousands of dollars in repairs. Car maintenance is best viewed as an investment - the $10 spent presently may mean the retention of $1,000 that would have been needed for a major repair later.
