Vehicle Maintenance Check

Vehicle maintenance is something we usually say we are going to do but it is the first thing we leave for the next day. Before you do it again, stop and think about how much money you could actually be spending. You could save yourself thousands of dollars if you take a couple of minutes each day to eliminate one or two items from your checklist. Let’s take a look at a couple of small items that could lead to much higher costs in the future.

The easiest area to overlook and probably the most expensive is the engine. Your fuel filter, coolants, spark plugs and oil will have a direct impact on your engine. Neglecting any of these can result in having to replace the motor which will cost you thousands of dollars, whereas if you are diligent, daily maintenance would have only cost you a few dollars.

Something we rarely think to look at before we get behind the wheel are the wiper blades and washer fluid. It sounds like a small thing, but think about being in a severe storm and all of a sudden your windshield wipers are not working properly. Maybe you drive through a construction area and your windshield gets splashed. If your windshield wipers are not working properly or if you are out of wiper, it could easily result in an accident. Speaking of easy accidents, always be sure to check your tires for wear and proper pressure. Unfortunately, tires are an area that many drivers overlook until it’s too late. The last thing you want is to have a blowout going 60 miles per hour down the highway or get stuck on some back road with no spare. This is something we all fear, but few of us take the time to avoid it.

Have you ever got in your car, turned the key with no response? This could very easily be your battery or timing belt. Both items have to be replaced so infrequently that they are practically out of sight out of mind. Checking the battery and timing belt will only take a few moments, but it’s so much better than having to call a tow truck in the middle of the night.

Vehicle maintenance is something you should take very seriously. The information you need to do this correctly is easily found on the Web and is most likely provided in your car’s owner’s guide. While you may not be able to do all the tasks yourself, you should be able to tell when they need to be attended to. For items you can’t handle, there are plenty of inexpensive services that will do the work for you. Many of these services will send you an automated reminder or put a sticker on your car letting you know it’s time to come back and check on these items. Regardless, make sure vehicle maintenance becomes a priority for you and your car. You will both be much happier in the long run.