The best way to save money on your car is to keep it in good condition. This will prevent breakdowns and maintain safety. These are our top ten tips to help you save money on your car;
Have your car serviced by a professional and qualified car mechanic on a regular basis. Not only will your car be safer and more reliable, it will run more efficiently, saving the environment as well as your money.
Stay on top of small problems and prevent them becoming major issues. Regular servicing helps to highlight potential issues and can help prevent them becoming costly major repairs.
Maintain the correct pressure in your tyres for the type of driving you are undertaking. This can reduce fuel usage by as much as ten percent. Check your owner’s manual for advice.
Check and maintain your oil level. Change the oil at the beginning of winter. Old oil has a tendency to become thick with age meaning your engine has to work harder, a problem which can become worse as the temperature starts to drop.
Never top up your radiator with water unless it is an emergency. Coolant is specifically formulated to help retard interior corrosion, particularly in the radiator core. If you must use water, have the radiator flushed and refilled with coolant at the first opportunity.
Reduce wear & tear on tyres, brakes, suspension and other mechanical systems by taking it easy on the accelerator. Use only enough power to maintain constant speed, certainly don’t go as fast as you can then slam on the brakes at the last minute. Its not safe for you or good for your car.
Keep the battery at full charge. A battery that spends much of it’s time in a discharged state is unlikely to last as long as a well charged one. Constantly having low charge in a battery could mean the battery is faulty or indicate alternator or electrical system problems.
Run your air conditioner for at least a few minutes on a regular basis. Failure to do so for long periods can allow the seals to dry out, usually cracking as they contract. Even during winter, when there is a lot of moisture in the air, the air conditioner still needs to run every couple of weeks to prevent this occurring.
Keep your car clean and well maintained, including under the bonnet. Not only will it be easier to see where problems arise (if they do), your engine will run cooler and more efficiently and there will be less chance of moving parts becoming fouled.
DO NOT avoid spending money on your car if you can help it. In the right type of circumstances, avoiding spending money on your car can end up being more expensive in the long run and could even ruin the car permanently.
