South Salt Lake City

Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

People now-a-days are so busy with their day to day lives that they don’t take the time out they need to take better care of their cars. People could end up saving a bundle of time and money if they just took ten minutes out of their day-to-day and checked up on their cars. Everyone has stress in their lives including their relationships, their jobs, and much more. Wouldn’t it be nice not to include a long trip to the mechanic’s shop?

Here are a few common mistakes you should avoid:

1) Tires not being properly inflated – First you will need a tire pressure gauge. You can get a reliable gauge for as little as $5. Then look on your tire for the recommended tire pressure. Then check your tire pressure.

Doing this process saves you a number of headaches. For starters when your tires are inflated to the correct PSI you actually burn less gas. In today’s economy that’s the one thing we are sure we don’t want to waste. Plus, you don’t have to buy new tires as often and most importantly an underinflated or overinflated tire does not perform at it’s best meaning it can be hazardous. They can blow out and can cause an accident. At the very least you’ll have to pay to repair or replace that tire. Note: A spare tire should only be used to drive to a repair shop. They are not meant to permenantly replace the blown out tire.

2) Fluid levels too high or too low – Not only do you need to check the fluid levels but you need to be sure to check them at the correct time in the correct way. For instance if you own a car in an automatic the car should be warm. On top of the car being warm the parking brake needs to be on and the car in neutral. When checking the engine oil the car again should be warm but in this case the car needs to be turned off. It is important to remember the car must be cold when checking the radiator fluid levels. Not doing so can result in serious injury due to build up.

3) Changing your own oil or not changing your oil regularly -  Many people think they are doing themselves a favor by changing their own oil but changing your own oil can end up costing you way more in the long run. First raising your own car to change your oil in the first place can be dangerous. Plus, draining your oil causes a big mess, and then you have the responsibility of getting rid of the old oil.

When you take your car to a maintenance shop they check all the fluids and top any off that need it. They also lubricate the chassis, and change the oil filter. Plus, they can also check if you have an oil leak. If you are leaking oil and at any given time don’t have enough oil in your car it car permenantly damage your engine.

4) Failing to have the brakes checked or pads changed regularly – When you are driving down the street and apply the brakes do you ever hear a high pitch squeal? That sound is telling you that the brakes have worn down so much that they are scraping against the rotors and drums. Wearing them down to this point can cause and will cause damage the the drums and rotors. You’ll save a lot of money if you have your brakes checked rather than replacing the brakes pads, drums, and rotors on your car.

5) A loose gas cap – When you gas cap is loose in most cases your engine light will turn on. Many people take their car into the mechanic to find out what the problem is. A diagnostic can be highly expensive and completely avoidable if you just tighten your gas cap after every fill up.