All posts in Auto Maintenance

Take Care Of Your Car – Five Maintenance Tips From The Pros

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/10/22 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Take Care Of Your Car – Five Maintenance Tips From The Pros

By following these tips, you can ensure that your car remains in excellent condition regardless of the number of miles that the vehicle has, and you can prolong the life of certain parts while reducing the number of repairs that the car needs long-term.

Changing Your Oil

You should change your vehicle’s oil at least once every 5,000 miles. When changing the oil, you should ensure that your vehicle is on flat ground, and you should make sure that the oil is cool. Next, remove the plug by using a socket and a ratchet. Allow at least eight minutes for all of the oil to drain out before replacing the plug. Replace the oil filter, and finally, add new oil. Most owner’s manuals specify the type of oil that you should use for your vehicle, and the higher the oil’s numbered rating, the thicker the oil will be.

The Battery

Corrosion on your battery’s terminals can cause the battery to die much more quickly than it would have otherwise. Use a wire brush to clean corrosion from the terminals, and if necessary, replace the terminals.

Changing Brake Pads

Calipers and rotors rarely need to be replaced, but you should replace your vehicle’s brake pads at least once every 20,000 miles. After suppressing the brake caliper’s pistons, put the new brake pads in place and step on the brakes several times. After you’ve replaced the pads, you should check your vehicle’s level of brake fluid because brake fluid can leak out while you’re replacing the pads.

An Extended Auto Warranty

A company that provides an extended auto warranty will pay for any major repairs that your vehicle needs, such as replacing the transmission, the engine or the exhaust system. Most providers of extended warranties will pay the auto repair shop directly instead of reimbursing you.
Furthermore, some extended auto warranties will cover routine maintenance.

Rotating Your Tires

Rotate your tires at least once every 5,000 miles to ensure that they are wearing evenly. If the treads of your tires are beginning to wear out, purchase new tires from a trusted supplier, such as http://simpletire.com. This company allows you to choose tires that offer countless types of treads, speed ratings and levels of thickness.

Some of the steps that you can take to keep your car in outstanding condition include changing your vehicle’s oil, replacing the brake pads, cleaning or replacing the battery’s terminals, obtaining an extended auto warranty and rotating your tires.

Car Repairs – Don’t Break the Bank to Fix Your Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/10/08 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Car Repairs – Don’t Break the Bank to Fix Your Car

There is nothing more frustrating than discovering that all of suddenly your car needs repairs. Sometimes car repairs can come at the most unexpected time and can put a huge financial dent in our pockets. Whether it’s needing new brakes, tires or a battery; car parts and repair services can be quite expensive. However, there is no need to worry if you find yourself in this type of situation. There are there a variety of things you can do make sure you don’t go in the red trying to fix your car.

Order parts from the internet

Believe it or not, you can order your own car parts from major internet sites and save close to fity and sixty percent versus buying them from a typical retail auto repair shop. In fact, auto repair shops, dealerships and other independent mechanics order their parts online and will subsequently charge high mark-up prices to unaware consumers. There are a plethora of online auto part stores that are more than willing to recommend to you the most affordable and highest quality auto parts.

Short-term loans

Car repair services can potentially cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Sometimes, the income we bring in simply won’t cut it because we have other major expenses to worry about like rent, utilities, mortgage, food, etc. Look into taking out a short-term payday loan to help with getting your car fixed immediately. Experts at Power Finance of Texas suggest  that a short term loan is the best route when you have unavoidable car repairs that need to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Find an independent mechanic

Many big-box retailers and large chain auto repair shops can be quite expensive, charging an upwards of $80 to $100 an hour just for labor. Find a reputable, independent car mechanic through using sites like Craigslist and Angie’s List. Whether you need to install a new battery, get your oil changed or install new tires; independent mechanics can perform these same services out of their own garages and small shops.

Do it yourself

Although not a commonly used option, some people are opting to fix their cars themselves. Again, its very easy to order most car parts from off the internet. Many people have installed their own brakes, changed their own tires or even changed their own oil. However, this option isn’t recommended for those who don’t have experience doing such.

Unexpected car repairs can seem like a financial drain, but they don’t have to be. Just do your research to find the cheapest yet highest quality car parts and work with affordable mechanics who will offer you the best deals.

Five Car Repairs You Can Do On Your Own

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/06/05 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on Five Car Repairs You Can Do On Your Own

There are plenty of perks to owning a car. Whether you are commuting to work or headed out for a night on the town, a car makes traveling a lot easier. Unfortunately, the expense of mechanical repairs can begin to put a huge dent into your budget. The good news is that there are quite a few car repairs that you can do yourself. Here are five car repairs that you can do on your own.

Air Filter Replacement

Shockingly, some automotive repair shops charge $75 dollars or more just to replace the engine’s air filter. Believe it or not, most air filters can easily be replaced in 15 minutes or less. By simply removing a few screws, the dirty air filter can be swapped out for a new one. The only tool that is required is a basic Phillips or flathead screwdriver.

Replace Coolant Hose

Over time, coolant hoses are susceptible to becoming brittle. In some instances, the hose may suddenly burst due to the tremendous amount of pressure. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to a mechanic, you can do it yourself. Most hoses are attached with uncomplicated clamps, so very little mechanical skills are needed. The most important aspect is selecting the correct size hose.

Check Engine Light Diagnosis

Some drivers cringe in fear of an illuminated check engine light. Although a check engine light certainly warrants some concern, it could be something as simple as a loose gas cap. Every car owner should purchase a code reader for their vehicle. By hooking the code reader up to the diagnostic port under the dashboard, you will be able to determine the cause of the CEL.

Rotate the Tires

In less than an hour, you can rotate your tires. Although the process is relatively simple, you must remember to take all of the necessary safety precautions. The equipment needed for the job includes a hydraulic jack, jack stands, and a lug wrench. Although some people use the spare jack that comes with the vehicle, a hydraulic floor jack is far safer. A reliable tire finder will help you to locate new tires if needed.

Changing Spark Plugs

Changing the spark plugs may seem quite challenging, but it is actually fairly easy. With the assistance of a spark plug gap tool and a spark plug wrench, you will be able to complete the task. The most important thing to remember is to only change one spark plug at a time.

Stop Right There – All about Brakes

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/04/09 in Brakes with Comments Off on Stop Right There – All about Brakes

When it comes to safety and security on the road, nothing trumps your car’s braking system. However, despite its importance, few people really understand their braking system. Do you have disc brakes on all four wheels? Do you have ABS? Do you have drums on the rear? Do you know what those terms mean? Chances are you may have some passing familiarity with brakes, but you may not know the full story. Read on to learn more.

Brakes, Brakes and More Brakes

When it comes to braking systems, there are several solutions used by automakers. These include both disc and drum brakes.

Disc – Disc brakes are probably those you’re most familiar with. These systems use a disc-shaped rotor (hence the name), in conjunction with a caliper and brake pads. Disc brakes can be found on just the front wheels of cars or on all four wheels.

Drums – Once upon a time, drum brakes were the only option out there, but that changed some time ago. This really is older technology, but it’s still around today. You’ll find drum brakes in use on a wide range of vehicles, mostly on the rear wheels. Cars, trucks and vans can (and usually do) have drums in the rear and disc brakes on the front, unless the vehicle is noted as having 4-wheel disc brakes. Drums are very different from disc systems, and use a metal drum and brake shoes rather than a rotor and brake pads (the shoes push on the inside of the drum to slow the car).

ABS – ABS is not technically a standalone braking system. It stands for anti-lock brakes, and is a system designed to prevent wheel lockups from happening. For instance, if you’re driving down the interstate and have to slam on your brakes, the ABS system will keep your wheels turning, rather than allowing them to lock up and your car to skid. ABS is essentially a safety system. They’re found on disc brake systems, but that doesn’t mean that just because a car has disc brakes, it has ABS – the two are not mutually exclusive and you’ll find both ABS-enabled disc brakes and non-ABS systems on new cars rolling off the assembly line today.

How to Spot Wear

Spotting wear on your brakes can be tough to do (it’s impossible on drum brakes without taking the drum apart, by the way). For disc brakes, the best way to check your brake wear is to use a flashlight to gauge the pad thickness remaining by looking through the spokes of the wheel. It’s easier if you have the wheel off, though. You can also look for signs of wear on the rotors. Visible grooves are a definite sign of serious wear. Perhaps the simplest way to keep an eye on your brake wear is to have them inspected at every oil change and tire rotation – the mechanic should not charge for a simple brake inspection.

Change Them Yourself

If you’re a bit frugal and find that you need to change your brakes, doing it yourself can be a wise move. Most mechanic shops are going to charge much more than the price of the replacement pads, but if you have a little bit of extra time and a few basic tools, you can usually do this on your own at home.

Make sure you have a set of jack stands and tire chocks, though. You’ll also need a little bit of basic knowhow. As a note, if you have never changed brake pads before or don’t have access to a manual, doing it on your own might not be a good idea.

Your brakes are vital to road safety – make sure they’re in good condition at all times.

Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore.com, a company selling auto mats throughout the nation. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of an automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on logo, carpeted, molded and all weather floor mats.

Are There Any Ways to Save “Real” Money on Gas?

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/02/14 in Saving Fuel with 1 Comment

Buying gas is an unfortunate reality that most of us are stuck with, and if we’re honest, there isn’t any “real” way around it aside from not owning a car and getting around on foot or by bicycle. There are actually a growing number of people who do that, though for most of us, living that way just isn’t plausible or doable because of the distance we have to drive for work, groceries or other life necessities.

The question then becomes: Are there any “real” ways to save money on the gas we buy?

Saving a substantial amount of money off your gas bill is difficult, if not impossible, without some severe lifestyle or scheduling changes. Things like working from home, a different work commute or even buying a new car are some of the few ways that you could really see a significant drop in your fuel expenses. Yet such events are rare and can’t be counted on for everyday savings.

At the same time, there are things we can do in the short term, that will save less on gas and tide us over to the day when we can set up our home office and forget about that 45 minute commute. 

What’s The Answer?

The answer to our question is a bit of a mixed bag:
Are there any real ways to save substantial money on the gas we buy?

In the long term: Yes. – You can save a substantial amount of money if you plan your life around shorter commutes and smaller more fuel efficient cars.

In the short term: Yes, but in smaller doses. – Saving substantial money on gas on a day to day basis isn’t possible; instead, it needs to be done in smaller amounts.  Over time your savings can add up, but there’s no quick fix or easy solution. 

What Can I aActually dDo?

When it comes down to what you can actually do that will make a difference, we’ve already discussed some of the long term options, which are pretty obvious to everyone. What I want to do is list a few things you can do in the short term that will help you use less gas and give you more money in your pocket without having to drastically alter your commute or your established lifestyle.

So this is a list of simple and practical habits you can get into that will help you use less gas.

1. Use interstates more often. – Interstate driving, though usually done at a higher speed, is much better for your car than city driving. If you’ve got the choice between taking the town roads and getting out on the highway, opt for the highway, where you’ll avoid the stop-and-go traffic that can cut your MPH down by 10 or more.

2. Drive less aggressively. – It sounds simple, but aggressive drivers use a lot more gas than those who maintain their composure on the road and keep a sensible pace. Speeding up and then slamming on the breaks is completely unnecessary and only serves to use more fuel than you would if you just maintained a more reasonable speed and pace.

Remember, just because the speed limit is 45 doesn’t mean you’ve got to get to 45 as soon as possible. Go with the flow of traffic and plan your breaking and accelerating ahead of time. I would say that slow and steady wins the race, but you’re not racing, so just take it easy and save yourself some money.

3. Less radio and air conditioning. – Anything turned on in your car uses power, so if the temperature is such that you can get along without adjusting it, or if you can go without the radio, turn them off and it’ll help you get better mileage.

4. Check your tire pressure. – Low tired pressure can kill your mileage and if you don’t have a newer car with an indicator light that comes on when the pressure is low, it can be tough to remember when they need filled. Try and keep up with it as best you can. You can get a small pressure gauge at any auto parts store for a few dollars. Use that to check every month or so whether or not you need air. If you do, most gas stations provide a station where you can fill your tire up for free.

5. Clean out your car. – Any extra pounds you carry in your car will affect your mileage and cause your vehicle to use more power. If you’ve got a lot of extra baggage that you’ve put off cleaning out, get it moved into your house and avoid using your car as a storage unit. I’ve you’ve been carrying around a lot in your car, than removing all of it might actually cause a significant increase in your MPH thereby saving you some nice chunk of change.

Make sure to avoid keeping stuff in the trunk longer than you have to, and try to make a habit of cleaning your car out on a weekly basis. Even if you only save a few cents, think of leaving that stuff in your car as the equivalent of throwing a handful of change out your window every 50 miles or so.

Author Information
Jason Benton is a personal shopping assistant who loves hunting down a good bargain. Jason enjoys sharing his tips on shopping websites. Visit http://www.cheapsally.com for saving on essential items.

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