Some people believe maintaining their vehicles consists of filling up the fuel tank, occasionally changing the oil, running it through the car wash, and replacing the air freshener. However, there is a whole list of tasks you should perform in order to keep your car in good condition. For example, you want to change filters, check on tire pressure, as well as tire rotations.
Maintaining your vehicle not only increases its performance, but it also saves money you’d otherwise spend on expensive repairs.
One of the primary goals of maintaining your vehicle is to keep it in a good driving condition. After all, it’s better to care than to repair; the goal should be to keep the number of repairs to a minimum, which will give your car a longer life. So make sure to check fluid levels regularly; also monitor your brakes, lights, tire pressure, and the battery. You’ll also want to keep the tires rotated during oil changes; doing so will extend the life of your tires.
Maintaining your vehicle saves money in other ways too. For example, you can extend car battery life by checking it routinely. Missing one or more oil changes is harmful to the car engine, as it leads to premature wear.
A car that has been properly cared for over many years can pay dividends later. In fact, theses days it’s not that unusual to see well-maintained cars that are 50 years old — or more — on the roadway. Well-maintained cars command higher resale values too. This is especially true when they are maintained inside and out. With that in mind, car polish is the key to the appealing look of any vehicle, as it makes it spotless, shiny, and well-conditioned.
A properly-maintained vehicle is the best way to maximize gas mileage. Believe it or not, a poorly-turned engine can increase fuel consumption by up to 50%, which is why it’s important to keep your vehicle’s performance at a high level. This further results in decreasing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, which are harmful to the environment.
Finally, we all want our vehicles to serve us well and have a long life — but safety is important too. So stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations about tire inflation; improper inflation can lead to flats and blowouts which may result in losing control and having a crash.
Conclusion
It takes time and money to properly maintain a vehicle, but it’s an investment that will save you more in the long run, while also increasing the safety of you and your passengers.
Try to keep track of your oil changes, check fluid levels, and drive your car to a mechanic once in a while as well. By doing so, you will ensure that your car always looks sleek and new, while running at peak performance!
Photo: Newtown grafitti
Ethan says
My boyfriend and I are in the process of restoring an old car and we have noticed that there are some aspects of the car that can be improved, like the brakes. I will keep this in mind as we search for a maintenance shop that can help save me money in the long run!
Jenna says
My brother is having a lot of trouble with his VW bus, it would be really nice if he could get a professional to help him.
Brooklyn says
Good article. Thank you. I recently just bought my first car, and want to make sure that I properly take care of it, so there’s not an issue with it. This will help me to take the best possible care of my new car.
Tommy says
My brother thinks his brakes might need some maintenance done on them to avoid further damage that would require repairs. I’ll pass this information along to him so that he knows about the benefits of preventative maintenance.
Len Penzo says
Glad to hear it, Tommy. We don’t want your brother’s brakes to fail!
Ellie says
I just bought a new car recently, and I was told it is best to check fluid levels regularly and taking to maintenance as well. As you mentioned, it is best to take care than to repair, and I will take my car to preventive maintenance to prevent future problems. It cost me too much to let it go to pot!
Larry says
By regular maintenance and some small details like avoiding shifting gears while accelerating, my car has been running smooth from a long time without any major breakdowns.
Vivian says
Maintaining your vehicle does indeed allow you to extend battery life and save money. We own a BMW are meticulous about this — and we need to be because the repair costs for a BMW are so high!
Len Penzo says
Good for you, Vivian!
May says
Great info. Thanks.
Emma William says
Regular maintenance reduces the probability of a car breakdown and keeps your car in good condition. Investing in car tuning is also an important thing that should be considered for better performance. It was easy for me to get complete knowledge of the car tuning from Hs-tronic.
Thanks
Mitch says
Certainly the car will be safer when we drive it, and we will save a lot of money when we encounter fewer unexpected problems. Thanks for this helpful information.
Len Penzo says
You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by, Mitch.
Alan says
Useful information. Thank you. I drove a Subaru 2.5X 5 years ago, and I did a lot of research online about how to maintain a car, the information above helped me to take the best care of my car.
Frankie Frank says
I want to try and sell my car before summer starts. I’m gonna make it look as good as possible so I’ll go have it polished before trying to sell it.
Charlotte says
My brother’s car is his pride and joy and he wants to make sure it can last as long as possible, which is why he meticulously maintains his car. The fact that it saves him money in the long run is just a nice side benefit!
Elizabeth says
I know better than anyone that maintaining your vehicle is an important to make sure you and your family stays safe on the roads and enjoy trouble free motoring — because I never used to maintain my car and I found myself stuck on the side of the road more than a few times because of it!