These days, people's lives are so hectic that they never seem to have the time to maintain their car. It's a shame, because people could end up saving a lot of money and time by taking 10 minutes every now and then to do maintenance.

Here are some common mistakes people make with their cars:

1) Not making sure their tires are inflated properly - There is no real guess work involved here, recommended tire pressure is clearly printed on the tire. One thing you do need to buy if you don't have one, is a tire pressure gauge. It doesn't have to be fancy, many reliable gauges cost just around five dollars, less in many cases.

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 permanently 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) Do it yourself oil changes, or skipping regularly scheduled lubrication - Changing your own oil, while is seems like a good alternative, isn't, because you have to raise the car, drain the oil, which is messy, and then you are stuck with trying to dispose of the used oil.

That's why taking your car to a lube shop is the best choice. They'll check all fluids and top of everything, they'll lubricate the chassis, and do a few other things, for a pretty low price. Using a lube shop is typically less expensive, and a whole lot faster too.

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) Not tightening the gas cap all the way - Sometimes people go to the shop thinking there is something wrong with their car because the check engine light is on. Then end up having to pay for a diagnosis, when the only thing that was wrong is the gas cap was loose. Always be sure your gas cap is on tight, so there is no air interfering with your fuel intake and causing the check engine light to come on.

Add Your Picture

Article Submitted By: Anthony Allen
This Article Has Been Read 256 Times

---

Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Get the HTML for reprinting the article to your site

Rating: Not yet rated

--Choose-- 0 1 2 3 4 5

Looking For A Cheap Car MOT

Finding A Company That Offers Replacement Auto Glass Hayward Residents Recommend

There Are Many Reasons That Consumers Are Starting To Keep Auto Glass Repair Kits Handy

The importance of buying the right tyres for your car

Importance of Auto Repair Services

Choosing A Walnut Creek Auto Repair Shop

Exhaust systems and catalytic converters: a very basic guide

Reasons for Crankshaft Thrust Bearing Failures

Car Detailing With Melbourne Water Restrictions

How to uncover that your computer has been infected by a virus or trojan horse infection.

How to avoid the rip-off mechanics

Does your Auto Air Conditioning need repair?

An Overview of Radiators and Some Useful Tips

Guide to Fixing Chipped Windshield

Repairing an Engine Block

---