Save Money, But Not By Skipping Maintenance
Tuesday July 15, 2008
Wallets are getting tighter these days. Even for those of us who aren't affected by economic woes, the price of gas will have you down right squinchy! A recent article quotes one shop owners saying his regular maintenance business is down because car owners are deciding to hold off because they are spending so much on gas. We know the gas prices are killing you, but don't skimp on your regular maintenance! It may seem like you're saving money, but maintenance is what keeps your car out of the shop. Skipping important maintenance jobs will end up costing you more money in the long run, and that doesn't make much sense at all.
So what's the answer? Do it yourself! Most regular maintenance jobs are quick, easy and inexpensive. We can show you how to get them done, so you have no excuse. Performing your own scheduled maintenance can save money in many ways, but you'll also be getting to know your car or truck better. This means you can catch problems before they get out of hand and you'll be able to communicate much better with your mechanic should something need serious repair.
Comments
Here’s something to debate in the maintenance topic.I read somewhere that when the air filter used on an injected engine becomes partially clogged the engine controller compensates accordingly by keeping the fuel/air mixture correct.Looking at it that way,does it really pay to change the air filter whenever it’s somewhat blocked?I read of a study done on a vehicle with a new filter and a high mileage filter,the fuel mileage proved to be the same with each. hmmmmmm.
That’s a good question Jim. I have been a professional mechanic for about 30 years, so I will share my knowledge on this subject. The computer used in your car is a lot like a home computer in the fact that it is only capable of doing what’s been programmed into it. Everything has parameters (or minimum/maximum range) A partially restricted air filter isn’t going to cost you enough in fuel mileage to make a difference & the computer can compensate for the restriction & adjust the mixture…….TO A POINT! Most vehicles have a mass air flow sensor between the air cleaner & the air intake on the engine. Once enough contaminant has gotten past the filter(and it will) the thermistor wire on the m.a.f. sensor becomes coated & the car starts to run bad, use excessive gas, idle rough, sometimes stall, & almost always turn on the amber service engine soon lite or check engine lite. This is where you lose money quickly over replacing the filter in the first place. You will have to have a trained mechanic do a diagnostic scan on your vehicle if the light is on. In our area 70 to about 105 bucks just for that, not to mention the removal, inspection, & cleaning of the sensor, then reading the live data to see if it’s back to normal. Then the roadtest time. I hope you’re beginning to see where it costs a lot less just to do regular maintenance on your vehicle, rather than just waiting for the problem to develop. I will also tell you, just FYI, that if you have a turbocharged or diesel vehicle the filter is even more critical. I believe it was Fram oil filter co. that used to say, Spend a little now, or a lot later! There is a lot of truth to that statement.