The Pros and Cons of Maintaining Your Own Car

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The new year has begun. Time to think about those New Years resolutions! If you’re like most people, New Years resolutions start with the right idea in mind. The biggest problem is that many people try to implement too many or set goals that simply cannot be achieved without help or are unreasonable.

After many failed New Years resolutions, I decided to take a look at the things that I REALLY have enough self-discipline to implement. One thing I really want to work on this year is “saving money.” Every year when tax time rolls around, I look at the books and every year I realize that there are many ways to save money that are easy to do AND cost effective to implement. (It doesn’t make sense to spend a million dollars to save half a million!)

One way to put a little extra money in your pocket is by implementing a “preventative maintenance” program. Preventive maintenance simply means that. Prevent problems before they happen. In almost any circumstance, preventing a problem from occurring is less expensive than fixing it once it HAS happened.

One place to implement a great preventive maintenance program is with your vehicle! Let’s be honest. Auto repairs are expensive. But, with vehicles, there are MANY ways to help prevent problems from occurring that are MUCH less expensive than the problems themselves.

Start with standard maintenance items like oil changes, lubrication, and brakes. These items are inexpensive, but will save hundreds and even thousands of dollars in repairs if they are not done. Let’s take a look at the real cost of making some of these items.

Changing the brake pads is a good idea to start with. First of all, the brake pad manufacturer alerts you when it is necessary to do so! That’s what all that “screeching” is about! When you hear your brakes start to squeal, it means the pads have worn out enough to require replacement. The manufacturer installs “squeaks” – small pieces of metal that come into contact with your rotors and make them “squeak” to let you know they are worn. A great idea when you think about it! The problem is … most people don’t pay attention to this “screech” when it happens.

Make this a priority in your vehicle’s “preventative maintenance” program and here’s what it can save you … Replacing your vehicle’s brake pads will cost you approximately $ 30 per wheel. Buy brake pads with a lifetime warranty and the cost will drop to $ 20 per wheel the next time you do it. How does this save you money? Releasing the brakes until the “screeching” stops … and it will … will cause the brake “rotors” to be damaged. Once they are damaged, they must be replaced. Add $ 20 of labor to each wheel AND the cost of the rotors (between $ 20 and $ 120 each, depending on your vehicle)! Now there is a “piece of change” that you COULD still have in your pocket if you had done your preventive maintenance!

Next, let’s take a look at how to change your oil. Depending on your vehicle and the type of oil used, oil changes generally cost between $ 20- $ 40 depending on your vehicle, and that includes oil! The oil should be changed every 3000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes first.

Oil is the key ingredient in keeping your car, truck, SUV, or whatever keeps it running smoothly. Few things in your vehicle’s engine are as important as oil! And, the downside is that the things that happen when you DO NOT change your oil are numerous AND far outweigh the cost of a simple oil change. The worst of them is a blown engine! Yes, spending the “small change” for an oil change every 3 months COULD potentially save you the cost of a new engine, which, on some older vehicles, may exceed the cost of the vehicle itself! Also, when changing the oil, it is a good idea to lubricate the rest of the vehicle at the same time. Most oil change services include this lubrication. However, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, don’t forget to lubricate the rest of the car while you’re at it!

So is everyone listening to the point I am making here? I know these things are a pain. We’re all busy and it’s hard to fit an oil change or brake job into our busy schedule. I don’t mean it sarcastically, I mean it literally. If you’re like most of us, we don’t have enough time in the day! But, incorporating these things into our busy schedules CAN and WILL SAVE money in the long run.

I’ve only touched on two little things to help you save money in 2012 and the list goes on and on. We’ll continue to give you ideas for tips for saving money in the future! Feel free to comment with your own ideas! After all, the idea here IS to help each other!

Happy 2012 and we’ll talk to you soon!

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