Money Saving Car Maintenance Tips

(Last Updated On: August 28, 2019)

Money Saving Tips: Prepare Your Vehicle for Spring and Summer

As the weather gets warmer, it may be time to take care of some basic car maintenance that you put off during the winter. Doing your own car maintenance will provide a better understanding of how your vehicle works—plus you’ll save money in the process. Here are a few things you can do for your vehicle when spring rolls around.

Change your oil

One of the most basic do-it-yourself car maintenance procedures is the oil change. The process will vary slightly based on the type of vehicle you own, but the concept is the same.

1. Go to an auto parts store and purchase the type and amount of oil you’ll need. You can find this information in your owner’s manual. You’ll also want to buy a new oil filter, as the filter is typically replaced during every oil change.
2. Place a low, wide container beneath your vehicle, under the oil drain bolt. Slowly unscrew the bolt until the old oil begins to drain into your container. Once the oil pan is empty, unscrew and replace the oil filter, and reattach the oil drain bolt.
3. Now simply refill your oil via the designated opening under the hood with the correct amount of oil, and you’re done.

 

Wash, wax and detail your vehicle

There’s a lot of money to be saved washing, waxing and detailing your own vehicle. When washing the car, make sure to use environmentally safe cleaners, since the runoff can harm your area’s water system. Waxing is a labor-intensive but rewarding job. Pick a nice sunny day to wax your vehicle, and pay close attention to waxing instructions to get a great, long-lasting shine. Detailing your interior can also be time consuming, but the more often you clean, the easier it will be.

Remove snow tires

Once the snow stops falling it’s time to go back to all-season tires. It can be tempting to leave the snow tires on for a while in case of a spring snowfall, but running snow tires on a dry road can cause them to wear prematurely. And if your tires have small studs on them for traction, you could be charged a fine for using studded tires after the winter season, as they can add to the wear and tear of the road.

Other car maintenance tasks that may require a bit more mechanical familiarity include checking belts, hoses and brakes. There are a lot of other ways to save money when getting your vehicle ready for spring, including shopping around for car insurance. By comparing several vehicle insurance quotes and car insurance reviews, you can be sure to find the best deal for you and your vehicle.

 

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