If you are actively searching for ways to save money on a weekly, fornightly or monthly basis, know that you are certainly not alone. Many people are looking for ways to spend less in certain aspects of their life so that they will have money for other increasing expenses such as groceries, petrol, utility bills, and more.
What few people realise is that proper car maintenance can be used as a money saving method. By using just a couple of car maintenance tips, you may be able to keep your car running well, whilst at the same time saving money.
We have put together the following tips that you can adopt to help keep more money in your wallet or purse every month.
Never neglect your manufacturer scheduled maintenance program. Whilst there may be a cost associated with car maintenance/servicing, the cost may be much greater if you ignore it. If you ignore a warning light that comes up on your dashboard you could end up doing far more damage to your engine (and a much bigger bill) than if you sought the expertise of your local independent garage at the time it was brought to your attention. A fully serviced car will always hold a greater value when it comes to selling it on than one which has not had a full service history - why? - because a potential buyer will immediately see that it hasn't been looked after and will know that they could end up with a hefty bill carrying out a major service. Lower emissions and better miles per gallon can both be the result of proper vehicle maintenance. Not to mention the fact that it can increase the life span of your car. Things like cam belt changes during specific services are there for a reason - the belt has reached the end of its life - by not changing this at the appropriate time could result in engine failure costing Thousands of £££££ instead of a few hundred £££££!
Money Saving Tips
1: Check to see if your tyres are properly inflated. Both the tyres and your owners manual will tell you what the proper inflation level is. If they are not properly inflated, your miles per gallon could suffer, therefore costing you money. Also, with the vast amount of potholes on our roads today, damage can occur to your vehicle when driving over them with incorrectly inflated tyres. Also the life span of your tyres will decrease if they are under inflated causing you to change your tyres more frequently costing you more money.
2: Air filter can also help with miles per gallon, and can have an effect on the wear of your engine. Inspection, and if need be, a change of the air filter can be completed by you if you wish. Doing this yourself will be yet another money saver. However if you are following your car maintenance servicing schedule the filter will be changed by your garage.
3: Your driving habits can affect how much you spend on petrol. Driving too fast, or rapidly hitting the accelerator pedal to accelerate quickly will cause the use of excess fuel. Sensible driving will not only reduce fuel usage, it may also ease the stress that can be associated with driving. Maintain a smooth driving style and keep an eye out for supermarket coupons that give you money off your petrol - every little helps!
4: Opt for high quality motor oil, and always use the correct grade. Though purchasing one of the better brands may cost more, a better quality of oil is directly linked to better engine performance and less fuel use. Check your oil (weekly) between scheduled changes, and if need be, top it up. If you are unsure which oil to use speak to your local independent garage - ACC Offers a range of high quality oils for sale - speak to their servicing manager.
5: As much as 25% more fuel may be burned if you are running your air conditioning unit. Though there will certainly be times in which you wish to use your A/C, it may not be necessary to run it all full power. If you can run it at a lower setting, you will save money. Your AC will need topping up from time to time - ensure you use a garage that it authorised to do this for you - they will be able to detect and leaks you may have in your system too.
6: A bit of trip planning can also help you save petrol. Combining trips can be helpful, as can planning out the most direct routes. GPS devices can be helpful, as can online route planning websites. Very short trips in your vehicle can cause wear and tear on your vehicle - consider walking if at all possible. Car sharing is also a great way to reduce your petrol bill - ask around at work and share the driving.
7: Removing excess items from your car may reduce the total weight - do you cart stuff around in your boot for no particular reason - if so take it out, and subsequently the amount of petrol the car uses when in operation. Check to see if there are items that do not need to be transported at all times. Take your roof racks and roof boxes off when not in use - they can affect the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
Each of these tips can be used to help you save money on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Saving need not be difficult. Proper car maintenance, as well as these general tips should be considered if you wish to keep more of your hard earned money and reduce some of your ongoing motoring costs.
