How to Keep Your Vehicle Maintenance Costs Down
Vehicle maintenance can feel like a chore. But like so many chores, it’s also an absolute necessity. Regular maintenance keeps your car running properly, and while it requires small upfront costs here and there, it ultimately serves to prevent the need for many major repairs down the line, keeping overall costs down in the long run.
So, what’s the best way to go about your vehicle’s maintenance to ensure you pay as little as possible, for as long as possible? Great question. Here are a few handy tips.
Keep Up With Maintenance
As straightforward as this sounds, it’s easy to lose track of common adjustments and procedures that serve to keep your car properly maintained. The following list is a “cheat sheet” to keep you on track:
Change your oil regularly. Oil is a crucial component of your vehicle that affects numerous other systems, so you’ll want to ensure you follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations or change it every 5,000 miles. If you follow this strict schedule, you’ll drastically reduce engine wear.
Rotate your tires. Like your oil, you should routinely attend to your tires, ensuring you rotate them every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
Keep your battery clean. Your car battery’s terminals will suffer from corrosion over time, which may lead to battery malfunction. Instead of paying hundreds for a new battery, ensure you inspect the terminals (the metal knobs atop your battery) at least twice a year, and get any corrosion promptly cleaned and removed.
Receive a multipoint inspection. A car multipoint inspection identifies any maintenance issues before they evolve into more obvious, expensive issues—both those listed above and others. Get an idea of the exact condition of your vehicle by scheduling a multipoint inspection with your local dealership’s service center.
Consider a prepaid maintenance plan. A prepaid maintenance plan is a service agreement that lets you pay for future vehicle maintenance in advance, typically at a lower price than if you waited. Benefits include convenience, cost savings, and financing options, so consult us at Client to learn more.
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Don’t Ignore Warning Signs
Your car may seem to be running well, and you may even be keeping up with the aforementioned preventative maintenance. All the same, subtle anomalies may pop up that seem like silly oddities, including unusual noises and squealing sounds. Don’t ignore these oddities—they’re often warning signs of bigger problems to come. For example, a short squeal may be your brake pads pleading for attention. Addressing the small issues can prevent bigger, more expensive repairs down the road. Brake squealing could be a simple pair of brake pads, but if you wait too long, it could mean you'll also need new rotors, adding to the cost of service.
Choose Factory Parts for Longevity
It’s critical to always invest in quality replacement parts for your vehicle, as these will last the longest and help maintain performance. OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer, parts are factory parts crafted to function exactly like the originals for optimal performance. Parts made by your vehicle's manufacturer will have a higher standard of quality, and while they may cost more up front, factory parts will help decrease the frequency of replacement.
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Use a Trusted Service Center
Don’t put your vehicle’s maintenance and repairs in the hands of just any service provider. Schedule your car’s next maintenance session with the trusted, experienced service experts at Client today by visiting us online.