The pros and cons of doing your own car maintenance
The new year has begun. It’s time to think about those New Year’s resolutions! If you’re like most people, New Year’s 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 Year’s 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 comes around I look at the books and every year I realize that there are so many ways to save money that are easy to do AND cost effective to implement! (There’s no point in spending a million dollars to save half a million!)
One way to put some extra money in your pocket is by implementing a “preventive maintenance” program. Preventive maintenance just means that. Prevent problems before they happen. In almost all circumstances, preventing a problem from occurring is less expensive than fixing it once it HAS occurred.
One place to implement a great preventative 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 cheap to make, but will save hundreds and even thousands of dollars in repairs if not done! Let’s take a look at the actual cost of making some of these items.
Changing the brake pads is a great place to start. First of all, the manufacturer of the brake pads warns you when it is necessary to do so. That’s what all that “squeak” is about! When you hear your brakes start to squeal, it means the pads have worn down enough to require replacement. The manufacturer installs “squeakers”, small pieces of metal that contact the rotors and make them “squeak”, letting you know they are worn. A great idea when you think about it! The problem is… most people don’t pay attention to this “squeak” when it happens.
Make this a priority in your vehicle’s “preventative maintenance” schedule 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 is reduced to $20 per wheel the next time you buy! How does this save you money? Letting the brakes work until the “squeal” stops…and it will…it will cause the brake “rotors” to go bad. Once they are damaged, they need to be replaced. Add $20 labor to each wheel AND cost of rotors ($20-$120 each depending on your vehicle)! Now there is a “piece of change” that you MIGHT still have in your pocket if you had done your preventative maintenance!
Next, let’s take a look at changing the oil. Depending on your vehicle and the type of oil used, oil changes typically cost anywhere from $20-$40 depending on your vehicle, and that includes the oil! 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 bad thing is that the things that happen when you DON’T change your oil are numerous AND they far outweigh the cost of a simple oil change! The worst thing about this is a blown motor! Yes, spending the “small change” on an oil change every 3 months COULD save you the cost of a new engine, which, in some older vehicles, can exceed the cost of the vehicle itself! Also, when you change your oil, it’s 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 DIYer, don’t forget to lube the rest of the car while you’re at it!
So is everyone listening to the point I want to get to 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 schedules. I don’t mean that sarcastically, I mean that literally. If you’re like most of us, we don’t have enough time during the day! But, fitting these things into our busy schedules CAN and WILL SAVE money in the long run.
I’ve only focused on two small items that will help you save money in 2012 and the list goes on and on. We’ll continue to bring you ideas for money-saving tips in the future! Please 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!