Like all of us, cars occasionally get sick as well and need to be regularly checked and maintained to keep them in proper working condition as much as possible.
Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape and condition may require you to change some of its auto parts, especially if your vehicle is an older model.
Car part replacement is inevitable in your car's maintenance since all auto parts of the vehicle are subject to wear and tear and malfunctioning . They need to be upgraded, repaired or replaced in order for the vehicle to function normally or more effectively.
Among the auto parts that wear out fast or gets frequently damaged are the body panels and other exterior parts such as the bumper, the door, the tailgate, and the wheels, including the tires.
They are exposed to a lot of corrosive elements, which speed up formation of rust.
Sometimes, accidents happen and they too cause a lot of trouble to your vehicle no matter how much you have cared for your auto. The bumpers and the fender usually bear the brunt of the accident. In most instances you need to replace them to restore the vehicle's looks and safety.
Other parts of the car that need to be checked include the radiator, auto lights, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, alternator, battery and other cooling, electrical and exhaust system parts.
These auto parts perform very vital and difficult tasks and so they are also prone to abuse. They need to be checked every now and then as well .
Taking care of your car maintenance can be very rewarding if done properly so here's a list of tips that can help you save money on your car parts and service.
1. A well tuned car has a fuel consumption approximately 25% to 33% lower than a poorly tuned car making a tune-up cheaper than driving without it . Tuning your car for better performance can save you between $150 and $250 per year.
2. Regardless of the number of miles the manual recommends a oil change and filter change you should change them every 3,000 miles. This is one of the most important factors in your engine's life since it's going to prolong your engine's life and you're going to save on engine car parts. The potential savings are $500 to $3000.
3. Dirty air filter means more gasoline used and reduces the engine's life so you should check it regularly, maybe monthly. The air filter can be cleaned by blowing it with a hose or can be replaced. You can save about $130 per year..
4. Using steel-belted radial tires can increase the number of miles you make per year by up to 10%, saving about $130 per year.
5. Most cars don't work better on premium gas . Unless your car is pinging or knocking you shouldn't use higher octane gas. If your car doesn't have a high performance engine, using the gas that best suits your car's engine can save you $200 to $400 per year.
6. Having under inflated tires makes your engine burn about 6% more gas so make sure you check your tire pressure regularly.
7. If your tires are improperly balanced the tread on them will be destroyed. In addition, your suspension and shock absorbers can be damaged leading to more expense on car parts and service. Balancing your tires once a year can add thousands of miles to their life.
8. How about some preventative medicine? Keep your gas tank filled. This will help you avoid the gas line freezing up in cold weather. Also, driving on “fumes” allows little pieces of dirt at the bottom of your gas tank to run through the fuel lines with the last drops of gas. This debris clogs up the fuel filter and can cause carburetor damage as well.
9. Sometimes a problem with your car’s electrical system results from a simple blown fuse. Check to see if you have any blown fuses before investing in a tow truck!
10. Keep track of how much oil your car uses. A sudden change in oil consumption means you need to see a technician.
11. Save your brakes by having your brake fluid changed every 30,000 miles.
12. Stop and go traffic causes excess wear and tear on your vehicle. Go ahead and give your car a nice twenty minute ride at 55 mph on the highway every couple weeks if you “major” in short trips.
13. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. In most cases, using cruise control on the highway will save gas.
14. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. This isn’t going to cost you an arm or leg either.
15. Over time, some parts of your car may wear out due to rust. This is especially true to body panels, including the doors, the hood, and the fenders. Rust is not good for your car since it could depreciate the value of your vehicle. The best way to avoid it is to clean your vehicle regularly.
When you consider all the ways you can save money on your current vehicle, you might be persuaded to put away the extra each month for a new car !
Click here for hundreds of useful auto tips and also to find thousands of other money saving ideas .
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