Maintenance Car Tips
Your Quick And Easy Guide To Car Maintenance
Jun 4th
car maintanance
Cars are like electric lights. We often don’t appreciate them until they go on the blink. Regular maintenance checks and simple service can greatly reduce the cost of car ownership and keep you a much happier traveler!
Don’t let the thought of car maintenance intimidate you. There are actually several car maintenance tips you can do – even if you’re totally mechanically-challenged!
For instance, you’ll want to keep your windshield washer fluid reservoir full. This involves screwing off the cap and pouring windshield wiper fluid in the right spot. You can quickly check the fluid levels when filling up at the gas station.
While you’ve got the windshield washer fluid out, pour some on a rag and clean the bug guts, etc. off the wiper blades.
If you see any colored fluid leaking from your car, get it serviced immediately.
If you smell any peculiar odor coming from your car, take it to the nearest service station. Odors mean something inappropriate is going on under the hood of your car!
Every fall, go ahead and replace your wiper blades. You need new ones once a year – might as well get them before winter sets in and you’re wiping away that ice and sleet!
Be sure all your lights are clean and working, including brake lights, turn signals and emergency flashers. You can perform this quick check while filling up your gas tank.
Check your tires once a month – give a look over for cuts, bulges, or nails or other foreign objects sticking out.
Take your car to your friendly serviceman once a month and have the pressure in your tires checked. This service should cost you less than five bucks, if anything.
Every three months have your oil and oil filter changed. Many times an inspection is done during the oil change. It’s worth it to pay a little extra if you have to and have this done. Ask to have your battery checked, too.
Have your air filter changed when it gets dirty. You can ask the folks who change your oil to check the air filter. They’re happy to change it for you.
No matter how non-car savvy you may have felt in the past, finding that you can do some simple maintenance checks puts you in the driver’s seat. You’re likely to discover in advance if your car has a problem that should be taken care of immediately.
Tips On Car Leasing
May 4th
- Car Leasing
Leasing a car isn’t for everyone. If you’re like me and keep your car for many, many years then leasing isn’t for you. If however, you don’t get “attached” to a vehicle as some of us do, and you like having a new car every few years then leasing may be for you.
Today’s cars are built very well and you can expect to get a good amount of mileage from your car. You can expect at least 100,000 miles. If you purchase a car you may have five years of payments, but your car may last eight to ten years. This means three to five years of no monthly car payments. However, as you car ages, the need for upkeep goes up too. With more mileage on you car things start to break down and costs to keep your car up mechanically may go up. It’s doubtful though that what you pay out for maintenance and car repair will ever be as much as monthly payments would be.
When you lease a car you make monthly payments as you would if you purchased a car outright. But, when a lease is up you have nothing to show for it. These monthly payments may be somewhat less than if you were buying the car. Leasing a car usually requires large down payments and security deposits, taxes and fees. It isn’t necessarily cheaper up front than buying a car. Also, when you lease a car you have mileage restrictions. A lease generally allows between 12,000 and 15,000 miles annually. If you go over that amount you pay for each mile. This can really add up.
Leasing doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay for upkeep. You are held to the manufacturers specified servicing schedule for your vehicle. If you don’t have the required maintenance performed this can void your lease.
If you want to end the lease early there are generally large termination fees. At the end of your lease if there is damage to the car, or if there are missing parts you will be charged for them.
Make sure if you are considering leasing a vehicle that you understand all the fine print in the contact and all possible extra costs before signing on the dotted line.
Preventive Car Maintenance Tips and fuel filter replacement
Sep 16th
Preventive Car Maintenance
As for health care, preventive maintenance of the car is the best thing you can do to secure vehicles that you get when you want to go every day. With preventative car maintenance you might invest a little here and there, but in the end, you’ll still save time, money and aggravation that comes with “failure” surprises. Here are more reasons to get serious about preventative car care:
- Safety is the # 1 reason for some of your hard earned dough to invest in preventive car maintenance. Vehicles are poorly maintained make it much easier for you or a member of your family to get in an accident.
- Improved performance. A well maintained car means lower fuel consumption and a car that is easier to use.
- A well maintained car will improve the exchange or the resale value of your vehicle.
- Reliability and ease of use. A well maintained car means you do not worry about incorrect wheel alignment, worn tires and worn suspension components provide.
- Pride. Many people agree that the car is definitely a certain extension of your own personality. Take the car of your car!
Develop habits of car maintenance
It is very easy to get into the habit of getting your oil every three months, but it’s a bit hard to do annual reviews and replacements that every car needs. You must be regularly (ie every year or at least every two years) your car technician to ask about the condition of your air filter, oil filter, air filter, kn air filter and your fuel filter.
The most common complaints that can be solved with a fuel filter
This article focuses on changing the fuel filter, because experienced mechanics find that many people often complain that their vehicles are ‘experiencing’ power loss, hard starting, or hesitation.1 These problems are mostly due to fuel filters butcher and can easily be prevented with a simple replacement of fuel filter.
How often should I change the fuel filter?
As mentioned above, it is recommended that your fuel filter on an annual basis. However, an annual replacement applies only to vehicles with high mileage. Those of you who use your vehicles only occasionally or only for short distances on a daily basis, you probably off with one filter every two or three years. If you have questions about your vehicle, ask an experienced specialist filter how often you should change your fuel filter.
Do not fall for it!
Many new vehicles are equipped with so-called “life” of the fuel filter that the manufacturer claims can never be replaced. These new vehicles will replace the fuel filter every two years, but forever to be replaced at some point. Every fuel filter (including the new) can block or be exposed to moisture and rust – not for the history of the fuel filter life.
Fuel filter replacement services
You can replace your fuel filter for yourself, but today, when there were literally dozens of service stations at your disposal, you will see that you actually have more time and money if you shop the first time. Take time to shop and compare even ask for references. If you take the time now, it is unlikely that you regret your decision later. In addition, your fuel filter if you decide to change yourself, make sure nobody smokes around you as you work. Changing a fuel filter can be very dangerous.
Choose a gas station?
Also, the rapid decomposition “of your fuel filter you might consider patronizing to prevent stations fuel filters within their gas pumps. These filters ensure that the fuel in your vehicle through a filter last session ‘pass before entering your car. You’d be surprised how much dirt and other junk that is prevented from entering your car, because pumping the fuel filter.
No is simple science, a clogged fuel filter can not allow the same amount of fuel to flow through him like a new replacement. This could mean that the roads around your house – if you drive slowly – your car will respond well, but the road or freeway speeds your car may splutter and lack power.