Topic: Car Maintenance
Buying a cheap used car will save you money each month because you won’t be paying a hefty chunk of money for a car payment. You will need to invest some money into your car, however, to keep it in better repair. Spending a little money towards necessary regular maintenance will let you keep your car longer so that you can get your money’s worth out of it, regardless of how little it may have cost you. There are several things you can do to keep your cheap used car in better repair.
Get a Tune-Up
When you first bring home your cheap used car, it is a good idea to take it to a reliable mechanic and get it thoroughly checked over. Hopefully you did your research before buying the car, and you made sure it was in good shape before you bought it. A mechanic can check out all of the belts and hoses, the water pump, and other little things to make sure that they won’t be causing you a problem anytime soon. You should also get a good general tune-up so that your car will be running at its best.
Check and Change the Oil Regularly
Older cars have a tendency to burn more oil, as the engine doesn’t work as efficiently as it did when it was new. It is important that you check your oil frequently to make sure that it is at adequate levels. You also need to get oil changes regularly. As your car’s engine ages, the parts begin to wear down. Keeping your engine lubricated will prevent damage to your engine that can result in expensive repairs. Oil absorbs dust and other pollutants from the air, and these things build up in the oil. If the old, dirty oil is not changed, your engine could become corroded, which will cause you big problems.
Change Other Fluids
There are other fluids in your car that need to be replaced periodically as well. Transmission fluid should be drained and replaced about every 60,000 miles. If you don’t know when or if a transmission fluid change was last performed on your car, then you should add it to your list of needed maintenance. If your vehicle is anything other than front wheel drive, you should also check your differential fluid and have it changed if necessary. Both of these are relatively inexpensive procedures that will help to keep your car in better repair.
Clean the Battery Connections
If you buy and older car, it is likely that the battery will be old as well. To avoid being left without a way to work one cold morning because your car won’t start, check the battery connections for corrosion. Disconnect the battery and clean any corrosion off of the connections, and then reconnect it. If you don’t have any idea how old the battery is, you may want to take it to one of the many car parts dealers that offer free battery checks. If your battery is low on juice, you will have some warning that it needs to be replaced rather than finding out the hard way.
Updated: Sunday, 25 November 2012 7:26 PM EST
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