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Guide to Car Repair and Maintenance |
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Page 2 of 8
Mr. Thrifty Principle # 1: Change your oil and rotate your tires regularly
I know you’ve heard this one before, and it’s true: change your oil regularly. Mr. Thrifty hates to hear this kind of thing, because it reminds him of when he was a kid, when his parents reminded him to brush his teeth.
Seriously, a new car engine costs between $3,000-6,000. An oil change costs around $25, even less if you have a coupon. Think of your car’s oil as the blood of the engine. Just like you need kidney’s to clean your blood, your car engine needs clean oil to live. Changing your oil is the simplist way to make your cars engine last a long time and avoid costly car repairs!
Everyone agrees that regular oil changes are a must. There is some debate, however, on the frequency. Most manufacturers recommend a longer period between oil changes than does the oil change industry. Despite what the guys at JiffyLube say, you don’t necessarily need to get your oil changed exactly at every 3,000 miles. How you drive affects how often you should change your oil. You should change your oil more often, say every 3,000 miles, if you drive aggressively, take lots of short trips, live in very hot or very cold weather, tow heavy loads, or drive an older car with high mileage. If you do a lot of highway miles in moderate climate, changing your oil every 5,000 should work for you.
Unless you know how to change your oil on your own, Mr. Thrifty recommends taking your car to a reputable, name-brand quick lube shop. To learn more about how to pay the little as possible for an oil change, see Mr. Thrifty’s Guide to Cheap Oil Changes.
While changing your oil is important for good maintenance, rotating your tires is important for good safety. Tires commonly wear unevenly, which can create weak spots in the tire and lead to blowouts. Blowouts never happen when you want them to (darn blowouts), and thus are hazardous to your health. Rotating your tires every 7-8,000 miles helps your tires to wear evenly. Mr. Thrifty uses this simple rule to remember when to rotate your tires: rotate your tires every other oil change. Mr. Thrifty buys his tires at Discount Tire (http://www.discounttire.com/), which rotate his tires for free.
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Car Repair