Article on Vehicle Maintenance

Keep Your Vehicle Out of Your Wallet

At any time, whether the economy is booming or starving, nobody wants to keep throwing money at their car. By following just a few simple measures that don't require a complete change of lifestyle, you can ensure that your car doesn't turn into a money pit.

Maintain Your Engine

Even if you don't know a whole lot about cars, it's easy to tell when something's not quite right with your car. If your engine is running a bit rough, or your "check engine" light has turned on, you should definitely have your car's engine inspected. A diagnostic check from a dealership will generally run in the range of $100, which while admittedly not saving money in the short run, can give you a starting point. Some dealerships will put the initial diagnostic fee toward labor if they perform the recommended labor.

If you're more the do-it-yourself type, but don't have a diagnostic computer to check your car's on-board diagnostic system, most auto part retail stores will scan the codes on your car's computer for free if you ask. These stores may also sell portable units to scan the codes yourself, or you can buy yet another device that interfaces with your PC via USB port, and allows you to run an entire range of monitoring and utility software about your vehicle's data.

When the problem code is pulled from the vehicle's computer, if it's a quick fix like an oxygen sensor replacement, replacing it can result in a fuel savings of up to 40%, and it's an inexpensive part. Fixing problems when they are cheap to replace will save you from spending hundreds on the same problem later on.

Ensure Proper Tire Inflation

Aside from the obvious benefit of saving fuel because of reduced friction, keeping your tires properly inflated will extend their life as well. Because there is less friction, they won't heat up as much, and with the reduced flexing, the sidewalls won't wear out as quickly.

Your car should have a sticker on one of the inside door frames listing the recommended stock tire pressure and size.

Check and Replace Air Filter

As much as fuel, your car needs air. Air passes through your car's air filter, then into the combustion chamber propel your car forward. If your air filter is clogged or dirty, you're essentially wasting fuel constantly, as it will be maintaining an improper mixture for combustion. Replacing your air filter can result in fuel savings of up to 10 percent.

Not only will replacing your air filter save you money on gas, it can protect your engine. If your air filter is old, it may also be allowing particulate matter to pass through it, further damaging your engine.

Use Proper Grade Oil Regularly

Many cars nowadays use a much lighter grade of oil. If you're using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30, it can lower your fuel economy by 1-2 percent. Also, motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol contains friction-reducing additives.

Not only does keeping the correct grade of motor oil in your car keep it at peak efficiency, keeping it changed regularly also helps keep particulate matter from collecting in your engine's interior and will greatly extend the life of your engine. Keeping your oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles will go a long way toward keeping your engine running for years.

Remove Unnecessary Items

If you have a bunch of unnecessary junk sitting in your car and trunk, you need to clear it out. All that junk you let build up is dead weight that you're carrying across town and back for no reason.

Clean out your car completely, and take a good look at everything you're keeping in your car after clearing out any trash. Do you really need each of those things with you at all times? A good rule is to not keep anything you don't actually need with you out of the car. Obvious exceptions to this are an emergency roadside kit, your spare tire, and a vehicle jack.

Regulate Your Speed

Speeding is one of the largest wasters of fuel. Fuel comsumption increases rapidly as cars move above 60 mph, due to engine load and the high amount of drag caused by wind. Not only is it a huge waste in fuel comsumption, it can cost quite a bit if you get a ticket for speeding. Every mile per hour over the limit generally costs a set amount, and this can add up quicker than you think.

Even if you don't exceed the speed limit, you could still be wasting quite a bit of fuel. When you accelerate from a complete stop, your car puts all its energy into increasing your speed. The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you burn through. Accelerating less suddenly will help some, but by regulating your overall speed even more, you can increase your fuel economy even further.

By being aware of the light cycles at upcoming intersections, it is possible to gauge how long until a red light changes green. As you coast toward the intersection, brake early with the intention of making up the distance with your reserved momentum. The more speed you have when you begin re-accelerating, the less your car will need to fight against inertia.