Your car is a lot like the human body. You have to maintain it and pay attention to the smallest signs of trouble or it can lead to bigger problems down the road.
CarMD.com Corporation just released a new report that details exactly which scheduled maintenance mistakes can cause the most damage to your vehicle.
Here are the top 10 most costly mistakes:
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Putting off scheduled maintenance
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Ignoring the check engine light
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Not changing your oil on time or at all
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Failing to check tire pressure
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Ignoring transmission, brake, coolant and other fluid services
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Continuing to drive your vehicle when it overheats
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Not changing the fuel and air filters
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Having an unqualified person or service center service your vehicle
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Using aftermarket parts instead of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) quality parts
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Trying to service your own vehicle if you don't know what you are doing
While all of these are important to maintain the longevity of your car, some can be more costly than others. Most technicians say that ignoring oil changes is the most damaging car maintenance item that is neglected. Dirty engine oil does not react well with modern engines and can lead to engine failure.
The old standard for oil changes was every 3,000 miles, Nowadays,most experts recommend that you follow the manufacturer's schedule. You can usually find this in your owner's manual.
Another costly mistake is ignoring the air filter changes. It cost about 20 dollars to replace, but if ignored, it can lead to bigger and worse problems. A dirty filter can break the oxygen sensor which costs around 250 dollars to replace.
Plus, by not following the proper maintenance schedule, you could affect the validity of your
factory warranty or extended auto warranty.
Next time you think about putting off some of these maintenance items, don’t. It can be detrimental to your car’s health and could wind up costing you big bucks in the long run.
