Making your vehicle go the distance
Adapted from "Drive the Best..."
© 2001 by Kyle Busch
If you are on a tight budget, or even on an unlimited budget,
you know how important it is to make the most of what you
have.
Getting More Miles Out of Your Car:
The following are some tips that will help you to get more
miles out of your vehicle.
1. First, consider, does your vehicle actually have
the ability to run many miles without incurring costly
repairs? Find out by visiting a public library to consult
the frequency-of-repair information in the April magazine
issue of Consumer Reports. If your vehicle has a poor
repair history, consider buying a vehicle that has better
ratings and fuel efficiency.
If you want to extend the life of your vehicle, at the
beginning of each month, have the engine oil level
checked to make certain that it is at the full-level
mark on the dipstick. Buying two quarts of oil that
are on sale and keeping it in the trunk, will enable
you to avoid getting stuck paying three times what
the oil should cost. Be certain to only use the type
of oil and other fluids as specified in the vehicle
owner's manual.
2. Every three months (more often, however, if specified
by your vehicle owner's manual) and prior to leaving for
and upon returning from a trip, check (or have a service
station attendant check) the tire pressure and the other
fluids that include:
* Transmission fluid
* Brake fluid
* Power steering fluid
* Radiator coolant (check the clear plastic bottle)
* Windshield washer fluid
Why is it important to keep the fluids at their full-level
marks? The fluids lubricate moving parts to reduce
fiction, heat, and wear. Therefore, they are the single
most important factor for extending the life of a vehicle.
3. If you drive 6,000 miles or less per year, have
the engine oil and oil filter changed at the beginning of
spring and near the end of fall. If you drive 10,000 or
more miles per year, have the engine oil and oil filter
changed every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every
four months. An easy way to remember oil changes is
to mark a new calendar at the beginning of a year with
"oil change" reminders (i.e., May and November or
April, July, and October).
Service stations usually run specials on oil changes
(i.e., $10.99 - $13.99). However, make certain that the
station is reputable. Some stations have been known to
skip changing the oil or to do part of the job by changing
the oil but not the oil filter. To help make certain that the
oil filter was in fact replaced, use a black marker to put
an X on the new oil filter after an oil change. When the
next oil change has been completed, the newly installed
filter should not include an X.
4. Prior to winter, have a service station attendant
check the antifreeze in the clear plastic coolant bottle
with a hydrometer (a device that takes a sample of
antifreeze and specifies how cold the temperature
can become before the antifreeze freezes). The
antifreeze should be able to withstand (i.e., not freeze)
temperatures of at least 30 degrees "below the coldest"
winter temperature.
If the antifreeze is too weak, have additional antifreeze
added to the coolant bottle. Purchase the type of
antifreeze as specified in the vehicle owner's manual
(i.e., usually a type that is suitable for "aluminum and
all types of metals" that are used today's engines). It
important to avoid frozen antifreeze because it can
crack an engine's block which could result in possibly
thousands of dollars for the repair.
5. If you drive about 6,000 miles or less per year,
have the engine air filter changed once every two years.
If you drive over 10,000 miles per year, have the engine
air filter changed once a year in the spring. Many
discount stores regularly have sales on air filters.
6. In the spring and in the fall give the vehicle a thorough
wash, tar removal, and wax. When washing the vehicle
in-between the seasonal waxes, use a car wash product
that is safe for clear coat and waxed finishes.
7. Basic vehicle maintenance is an ongoing process.
The secret to making it "easy" and keeping a vehicle
"looking great" involves two components. First,
maintaining regular vehicle involvement and second,
only doing a little at a time.
Each week throughout the year (in addition to the
maintenance suggested above) take about 10-15
minutes to focus on a small aspect of the vehicle (i.e.,
wash the windows-week one, vacuum the carpet-week
two, Armor All the dash and the door panels-week
three, etc.). After about three months, one of the "small
jobs" will need to be repeated. However, the vehicle will
never be in rough shape. Doing a "small but thorough"
job on one specific aspect of the vehicle each week,
requires very little time or energy. Having a vehicle that
continually "looks great" makes it worthwhile.
The tips provided above are the most basic maintenance
requirements that will help your vehicle to run longer. Be
certain to reference the vehicle owner's manual for any
additional maintenance required on your vehicle.
Basic vehicle maintenance involves a minimal investment of
time and money, but it will provide major benefits in vehicle
performance and lower repair costs. Additionally, your
vehicle will be in better condition when it becomes time to
sell.
Buying a Used Vehicle:
For information on buying a used vehicle and saving
money, a new book is available: Drive the Best for the
Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility
Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money. Information about
the book is available at: 1 800 839-8640 or at:
www.drivethebestbook.com.
In 1991 the book's author, Kyle Busch, purchased a used
vehicle for $2,600 that a private owner had driven 82,000
miles. He has driven the vehicle for over ten years and the
odometer now reads over 292,000 miles. The vehicle
continues to provide for his daily transportation needs.
© 2001-2005 WebLynx World Inc.
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