Let’s face it. Car maintenance can be expensive. There are many things that factor into the costs. For instance, when you are looking for Toyota HiAce parts, you will see that the options available are expensive. However, it is always the ‘little things’ that add up over time. Regular oil changes and buying gas are just some of the expenses you don’t give much thought to because they do not really cost as much. However, when you add them up, you will be surprised at how much you’ve spent over the course of a year. You would wish that you’ve done all the items in your basic car maintenance checklist yourself.
We won’t deny that there are certain maintenance procedures that can only be done with the help of a mechanic. However, there are still things that you can do on your own, allowing you to cut down your maintenance costs. It can be tricky to find the right balance. However, you can start by being smart and looking for areas where you can spend less. Here are some ways you can cut down your car maintenance expenses:
Read your Car Manual
A lot of car owners read their manual like a newspaper. They only browse through the contents and forget about it. Keep in mind that your car manual is there to guide you on how to properly take care of your car and resolve common issues. Just think of it this way. When you want to learn about the exact specifications of a house, you look at the blueprint. The same is true for a vehicle. When you’re looking for Toyota HiAce specs or information about any other vehicle, your best source would be the manual.
It is important that you dedicated some time to thoughtfully read the manual from start to finish. You will be surprised at all the important information you can get. You will know how to maintain the car parts, the ideal amount of air pressure, the right size of your wiper blade, and the type of oil to use, among many other things. The more maintenance procedures you know, the more time and money you save in the long run.
Try Using Regular Fuel
Premium fuel might be recommended for your car. However, it is worth noting that very few vehicles really need it. A lot of late-model cars have engines that are equipped with knock sensors that allow them to adjust to regular fuel. Such design allows the engine to automatically adjust its timing when it detects uncontrolled burning. When you try using regular fuel, you might notice that there is a slight decrease in fuel economy and power. However, these factors won’t outweigh the amount you can save when you make the switch.
However, there is an exception. If your vehicle is super- or turbo-charged, you should strictly follow what the manual recommends.
Drive Sensibly
It might be exhilarating to suddenly accelerate or speed up your vehicle. While this can be useful in the race track, you shouldn’t do it when you’re driving on Metro roads. That said, you should only practice that when you have the right vehicle, tires, and area to safely execute your maneuvers.
You should also slow down when you drive through humps, potholes, or humps. When you drive fast on such road conditions, you are opening a myriad of problems, including suspension damage, tire and wheel damage, exhaust system malfunction, steering wheel misalignment, and engine defect. Another key thing to remember is that you shouldn’t suddenly step on your brakes with so much strength when you are slowing down. When you do this, you are wasting a lot of gas and unnecessarily wearing out your tires.
