Extend the life of your vehicle with proper maintenance

Posted by Kevin Quinlan ADD COMMENTS

As part of your self sufficient lifestyle, it is a good idea to learn about proper vehicle maintenance. This is a great way to extend the life of your vehicle, while also saving you money in your budget. Proper maintenance will help you avoid those costly and unexpected repairs that can occur when you least expect them.

The most important thing you can do for your vehicle is change the oil regularly. While the general rule of thumb is every 3,000 miles, consult the owner’s manual for your vehicle. Many modern vehicles only require you to change your oil every 10,000 miles. This is perfectly acceptable in normal conditions, but if you live in a polluted or dusty environment (life a farm) you may want to change your oil much more frequently.

You also want to get into the regular habit of flushing the fluids in your vehicle. Approximately every 20,000 miles, you will want to flush the old antifreeze in your vehicle and replace it with new antifreeze.

When you car starts approaching the 80,000 mile marker, you should start planning for another expensive repair. If your car has a timing belt, this is about when it will need to be replaced. It is a good idea to budget for this replacement because it can be expensive. Replacing this part before it goes bad is a great way to avoid unexpected repairs and frustration.