Before buying a car, consumers often only take the purchase price and insurance expenses into account, as they try to determine whether they can afford the car they are interested in. Maintenance costs are often overlooked in these situations, but they account for a big portion of the total vehicle ownership costs. That’s why trying to cut maintenance costs can help make owning a car more affordable and save drivers a lot of money.
Reducing Fuel Consumption and DIY Repairs
There are many things that car owners can do to save on maintenance. For instance, there are all sorts of ways for improving gas mileage, which reduces fuel expenses. Then, to further reduce car upkeep expenses, owners can do a lot of repairs themselves, and do the most important maintenance tasks regularly.
To reduce fuel consumption, drivers should check their car’s tire pressure, tune up the engine, and check the air filter. If the tires are inflated at the recommended pressure, they can help reduce fuel consumption by 3%. What’s more, properly inflated tires prevent uneven tire tread wear, which can otherwise be a cause for various defects.
Clean air filters ensure smooth airflow into the engine, helping it run efficiently without having to burn extra fuel. Also, if the engine is properly tuned, it can improve a car’s fuel economy by 4%.
Those who want to find the cheapest gas can download an app on their smartphones, such as gasbuddy.com, which lists the lowest gas prices in a user’s area, with maps that help drivers get to the suggested gas station more easily.
Ask for Repairs Discounts
As far as discounts on car repairs and oil changes are concerned, car owners can definitely benefit from joining the mailing lists of various companies. For example, there are some that provide discounts for select customers who have signed up for their preferred customer emails, occasionally offering special deals on oil changes and other common services.
When it comes to repairs that car owners can do themselves, it’s something that pretty much every driver can do, without having to be a professional mechanic. Here are some of the things that drivers can do themselves:
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change oil;
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replace the air and oil filters;
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replace the headlights;
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replace the brake pads;
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replace the spark plugs;
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replace the windshield wipers;
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flush the radiator.
Most of these maintenance tasks can be done in less than 30 minutes, and all that drivers need is some simple tools and basic car maintenance knowledge and skills.
To sum up, maintaining your car doesn’t necessarily have to be very expensive. You just have to be ready to get your hands a bit dirty and spend some more time taking care of your car.