Avoiding Big Repair Bills

As the old saying goes: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This sentiment definitely holds true when it comes to caring for your car. Cars come with owner’s manuals that include suggested maintenance schedules that are wise to to follow. There are also simple preventative maintenance tasks that are relatively cheap that can ensure you keep big repair bills as far away as possible. You can find more in-depth information about any of these suggested tasks and even learn how to do some of them yourself at Cars.com.

Changing the oil as often as your car make and model requires is probably one of the single biggest favors you can do for your wallet. Oil change schedules differ from one car type to another. Some require new oil every three months or 3,000 miles. Some newer cars can go as long as 7,000 miles with a new batch of oil. It’s best to check your owner’s manual to know how often you should have your oil changed. Committing to doing so when necessary will keep some large repair bills at bay. Without oil in the car, or without enough oil, the car engine parts will begin to create enormous friction and heat, wear out and eventually shut down completely. The only repair ahead for this scenario is an entire engine replacement. According to Engine Finder, who helps anyone find used engines for sale, buying an already used engine to replace your broken one can help you save a lot of money as brand new engines can cost up to three times as much as used ones. However, overall it’s cheaper to just make sure your engine has enough oil.

Also, be sure to have your brakes checked. This simple maintenance task is more about avoiding potentially dangerous driving conditions than having an engine breakdown. In the case you have knowledge of car repair, you can save a lot of money. Whenever your car breaks down, you can repair it yourself rather than take it to the garage. You just need to purchase the necessary parts required for the repair. For instance, if your engine breaks down, you may need to purchase one of the kits to rebuild engines and fix the vehicle yourself. That way, you can also have a better idea about your car’s weaknesses and be prepared for them.

If you have your tires rotated regularly, you can check your brakes for wear and tear. Replacing brake parts are much cheaper as they begin to show wear and tear than when the grinding and other brake noise starts to happen. If your brakes are in poor condition, you are also susceptible to unsafe driving conditions that could cause a crash directly leading to major repair expenses and even costly medical bills. So, it’s just a good idea to go to an auto brake repair service before it’s too late and you write off your own vehicle.

Your tires should be checked regularly too for the same reasons that your brakes should. Tires offer traction on the road which directly affect your handling and ability to react to obstacles on the road. Without proper tread on your tires, your ability to drive in rain or snow will be dangerously diminished. Your ability to stop on a dime will be diminished too, and your potential for causing a crash increases considerably. These scenarios will no doubt end up to be much more costly that regular, routine tire rotations and inspections.