Saving Money on Auto Expenses
It’s the first week of summer! Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for travel. According to the Air Transport Association, 2.2 million people each day will travel via the airlines this summer. Aside from air travel, which is full of delays and fees, road trips are an economical way to travel (gasoline prices have been reasonable lately). There are some basic fundamentals about the mechanics of your car that you need to know about if you plan on traveling by car this summer. All of these tips will save you money!
Bryan Gregory, ASE Certified Mechanic and Director of Consumer Education at Advance Auto Parts, offers the following money saving tips for your car:
1. Check the Tire Pressure: Under inflated tires wear out fast and increase fuel consumption. Use a digital tire gauge for the greatest accuracy. Don’t inflate your tires to the maximum pressure as listed on the tire sidewall. Instead, look on the driver’s side doorjamb, which should include a label with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended air pressure for front and rear tires. If the label isn’t there, check your owner’s manual.
2. Change the Air Filter Regularly: This has a huge impact on fuel consumption. Your engine needs to breathe in order to create maximum power and efficiency. You should replace the air filter every 7,500 miles, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
3. Check the Vehicle’s Fluid Levels: oil, coolant, brake, washer, and transmission – these fluids are critical to the healthy operation of the car. If any of these fluids are low or missing, costly vehicle damage is likely to occur, as well as increased risk to driver and passenger safety.
4. Check the Battery: Contrary to popular belief, more batteries actually fail during the summer as compared to the winter. Printed on most batteries is the battery’s expected lifespan and when it was installed or manufactured. If your battery is nearing or has exceeded its recommended lifespan, replace it.
According to Gregory, “If the dreaded “check engine” indicator lights up on your dashboard, don’t panic! Instead, you can and purchase a Scan Code Reader or OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostic) Scanner for about $69 at any auto parts retailer. Follow the directions on the scanner and it will tell you what code is causing the “check engine” light to illuminate. Knowing what the problem is will provide peace of mind. If you don’t want to check the code yourself, go to any Advance Auto Parts store where they’ll use their scanner and complete the analysis for free.”
It is also very important to make sure you have proper auto insurance coverage in case of an accident during the busy summer travel season.
Have a great summer! Know of any other ways to save money this summer? Post your comments below:
(slide show image courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielle_scott/3604346027/)
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