Just like anything else, cars need to be taken care of. The cost of maintaining your vehicle is an expense that can be easily controlled. The secret to budgeting for your vehicle is to understand what types of car maintenance an individual vehicle may need. It is essential to safeguard your car against any costly repairs by investing in repairs before they occur.
A budget is the best way to stay on track with your finances, but it can be challenging to create a budget for something that is so variable. When your car needs something, you may not know how much it will be until you take it to the mechanic. That means you will have to budget for the worst-case scenario for car maintenance expenses–but that can be very difficult. On top of that, if you are on a tight budget, it may be challenging to stay within your spending limits.
Types of Vehicle Maintenance
First, it’s good to know how often you should rotate your tires. There are two types of tire rotation methods to consider. The two types of tire rotations are two-cross rotation and clockwise rotation. Two-cross Rotation involves alternating which tires are on the front and rear while Clockwise Rotation rotates tires in one direction, so they wear evenly. The frequency depends on the type of tire, vehicle, and driving conditions.
Keeping a car running requires regular maintenance. For the best results, it is essential to keep up with proper car maintenance. For instance, one must keep up with oil changes and tire rotations (among other tasks) to maximize the lifetime and performance of their car.
It is also important to note that keeping a car running also requires regular maintenance outside of the vehicle, such as getting your oil changed and your tires rotated..
For the best results, it is essential to keep up with proper car maintenance (outside and inside). For instance, one must keep up with oil changes and tire rotations (among other tasks) to maximize the lifetime and performance of their car.
The Ultimate Maintenance Checklist
- Oil changes: Every three to four months or every 10,000 miles
- Brake fluid exchange: Every two years
- Suspension fluid exchange: Every two years
- Coolant flush: Every two years
- Fuel filter replacement: Every 30,000 miles or every five years
- Oil and filter change: Every three months
- Timing belt: Every 60,000 miles or every seven years
- Cabin air filter: Every two years
You might be able to get an idea of how much to save for maintenance if you have had your car for a while.
Look at your bank statements or receipts from the last 12 months that concern your car. Add that total up, and divide the number by 12 to estimate how much money you need to save each month. Or consider automating what you are saving toward the goal daily, weekly or monthly.
Although the method described above will help you start, there are some things that you can’t account for. This is just how life goes. As a car owner, you will likely have emergency maintenance needs each month. Having emergency money put back each month will help ensure nothing slips through the cracks if one of these emergencies comes up. Waiting until the last minute or dealing with this crisis as they arise is never a good idea, of course – so you need to plan to be ready for anything! Some of these emergencies might include having a flat tire or even your battery dying on you! So, go ahead and create an emergency repair fund that allows you to cover any expenses that may come up unexpectedly on your end
Scheduled Maintenance
As a car owner, you should try to stay on top of specific maintenance issues that, ideally, do not need to be taken care of often. For instance, you will need to change your oil about every 7,500 miles if using it frequently. If you only use your vehicle a few times per week, chances are it could go up to a year without needing its oil changed. It’s always best to check when in doubt and consult with your owner’s manual to not damage any components in the process.
It’s time to take care of your car! If you’re getting ready for a new one, give Sarasota Car Sales a call at 941-925-7150. You can also come by and see us at 1683 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota.