To Make Your Car Last Longer Check out Following Points
If you have a major repair to do, it's wise to get at least 3 estimates, if possible, before you decide. Read and follow your car owner's manual - it's your car's bible for making your car last longer. Whether you are a man, woman, boy or girl, learn to do some routine maintenance on your car yourself. A multitude of books, videos, magazines and classes are available at your local library that will teach you for free if you don't know. Learn how to check your own oil, transmission fluid, tire pressure and coolant, etc. If you find a good mechanic who you can trust, stick with him even if his prices are a bit higher - all things being equal. You'll always save time, money and aggravation in the long run. Don't race or gun your engine when you start it up. Accelerate slowly and smoothly when your engine is cold. Avoid burning rubber - it places excessive wear on the transmission, rear end, not to mention your tires. An international tire company estimated that 33% of all tires on the road are under-inflated (low air). Under-inflated tires wear out quicker and have a tendency to blow out easier. A garaged car lasts longer. A car port is next best, and a car cover is a distant third. Avoid jackrabbit starts and stops. Stop and accelerate gradually. Avoid tailgating, tire squealing turns, flying over speed bumps, pot holes and revving your engine. When possible, avoid driving your car during rush hour stop and go traffic periods. Keep front-end aligned, for longer tire life and better gas mileage. Make sure you get promised repairs in writing including how much it will cost. Avoid car dealers except to have highly specialized repairs done that can't be done properly anywhere else. It's hard to be overcharged when you get three estimates before you have the work done. Beware: Cheapest is not always the best. Normally, the best mechanics with the best equipment and training cost more. Often mechanics that charge extremely low prices have inferior or outdated equipment, little to no formal training or are underinsured. Complex electrical problems are so involved that serious electrical work should be done in an "Auto Electric" shop. They have the equipment, tool and training to do the job more efficiently than the average mechanic. If your car has "Cruise Control" use it. Using cruise control will save you 5% to 10% of a gallon of gas on long trips. Avoid constantly pressing and releasing the accelerator when driving. This practice not only wastes fuel, but it puts excessive wear on the drive train of your car. Don't ride your brake pedal, this wears out your brake linings prematurely, and wastes fuel. Driving with your windows all the way down at higher speeds, will waste 10% more gallons of gasoline than driving with them closed. Research by a major car manufacturer has revealed that neglect of proper routine maintenance is the number one reason for the enormous increase in car repairs being required. When purchasing or changing tires, make sure you have them spin balanced. Avoid cleaning your windshield with a dry rag or towel. Always dampen with water or some other cleaning liquid. Dry towels grind and scratch your windshield hindering your visibility. Avoid turning on the car air-conditioning while running at highway speeds as this tends to put an immediate heavy load on your compressor and clutch. This could cause excessive wear and tear on these components. Instead turn your air conditioner on at car speeds below 25 to 30 m.p.h. This helps to preserve your expensive compressor. Try to avoid running your car with the tank low on gas. Keeping a low tank of gas increases the chance of dirt, water/moisture and rust forming in your fuel system. Keeping a full tank decreases the chance of dirt and other foreign matter forming in your fuel system. Tires driven at 70 m.p.h. wear out almost twice as fast as cars that go 50 m.p.h. A government study has confirmed, the top three causes of car breakdowns while on the road are: Running out of gas Tire troubles Cooling system problems (overheating). The best as well as the easiest ways to find a good car repair shop is by recommendation or referrals from satisfied customers. To work on a late model computer-controlled engines, make sure the shop you choose has the equipment to handle computer - electric service/repair. Sophisticated diagnostic equipment is a must. To choose the right repair shop for you, it's wise to have a small or minor maintenance or repair job done first to see how the repair shop and mechanic treat you and your car. Give detailed description of your car's problem when you take it in for repairs. The more you can describe what your car is doing or not doing (thumping, squealing, clacking sound, etc.) the faster and less it will cost for your mechanic to fix it. When in doubt about the cost of a repair or a mechanic's honesty get a second opinion. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from being ripped-off until you can find a permanent repair shop. Regular oil changes are the most important thing you can do to protect your engine and make it last longer. If you have a manual transmission, downshift to slow your car down instead of using your brakes. This will save wear and tear on your braking system. Each time you have your engine oil checked, have your transmission fluid checked also. Protect your car's interior and make it last longer - park your car in the shade or place a windshield guard or cover in the windshield. If you spill something inside your car, clean it up immediately before it dries. Delaying even 30 minutes can sometimes leave a permanent stain or spot. NOTE: To better protect your car seats have them treated with scotchguard.
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