The economy is tougher now than it has been in most people’s living memory. Real wages are lower and expenses seem to rise all the time. One of the biggest expenses we deal with is the cost associated with owning and operating our cars. When every penny counts it’s important to know how to save money on car expenses. These simple tips can help you save money on car expenses immediately.
1. Save money by getting fewer oil changes.
Getting oil changes is critical to the long-term mechanical well-being of your car. If you have a newer car you may be spending more money than necessary getting oil changes every 3,000 miles. Read your owner’s manual. Many newer cars only need an oil change every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. The motors are engineered to need them less frequently. Modern lubricants are also engineered to last longer.
When you have owned a car for 60,000 miles you would change the oil twenty times if you do it every three thousand miles. Compare that to the twelve times you would need to do so if your car is designed to only need an oil change every five thousand miles. If your car only needs one every seven thousand miles you would only need eight oil changes. At $30 per oil change you could be saving hundreds of dollars over the life of your vehicle by only getting them according to the manufacturer’s recommended mileage. It’s also better for the environment because there will be less oil for the shop to discard.
2. Save money by keeping your tires properly inflated.
Keeping your tires properly inflated is important. If your tires are over-inflated they will tend to wear out faster. That means more frequent replacement of tires – and tires are expensive. If your tires are under-inflated your car will get lower gas mileage. With gas fluctuating between $3.50 and $4.00 a gallon every bit of additional fuel economy helps you.
3. Save money by using the air conditioner.
Many people believe it is more expensive to use the air conditioner than to roll down the windows to keep the car cool. That’s been conventional wisdom for decades. The reality is that rolling down the windows can actually make your car less fuel efficient.
Car manufacturers spend a great deal of money and effort to make fuel efficient vehicles. This is why they design cars with aerodynamically streamlined bodies with smooth curves instead of boxy shapes. This reduces drag (the force that slows a car down while the engine is trying to move it forward). Less drag means better gas mileage.
When a car’s windows are rolled down it causes tremendous increase in drag. The motor has to work harder to keep the car moving at the same speed. That consumes more gas per mile so you have to fill up more often.
Running the air conditioner does make a car work harder than it otherwise would. The deciding factor on whether you’re better off using it or rolling down the windows is speed. As a rule of thumb, if you are driving at highway speeds it is more cost efficient to use the air conditioner. If you are driving at local route speeds you are probably better off rolling the windows down.
Make your decision based on personal comfort. If all else is equal, and you would be comfortable either way, using the air conditioner on the highway.
4. Save money by obeying the speed limit.
The faster you drive your car the harder the motor has to work. A car being driven at 100 MPH works more than twice as hard as when it is being driven at 50 MPH.
Car engines are also designed with a particular range of speeds at which they get the best fuel economy. It’s no coincidence that the range for most engines falls between 35 MPH and 65 MPH. Cars are actually designed to get the best mileage at reasonable and legal speeds.
You can save money on your car expenses by driving the speed limit. It will require less effort from your engine, saving you gas. It also helps by ensuring you don’t get speeding tickets which result in fines and higher auto insurance rates.
5. Save money by shopping around for gasoline.
Ten years ago the difference in gas prices from one station to another was frequently no more than a cent or two per gallon. Today it’s not uncommon to find price variations between stations of over ten cents per gallon. There are several ways to shop around for the best gas prices in your area.
The first is the old fashioned way. Keep watch as you drive around day-to-day and make note of the locations of filling stations with the best prices. The odds are that if you see a particular station consistently offering lower prices than its competitors that it will continue to do so.
The second is by utilizing the web. Doing a quick web search will reveal many web sites that track pricing information for gas stations. That lets you quickly figure out which stations in your area will save you money on gas when you fill the tank.
The third is to use a smart phone. There are gasoline price tracking applications available for several of the major smart phone varieties. If you have a smart phone take a moment to visit its application store and see if you can find a free one to download. This has the advantage of helping you shop for low-cost fuel anywhere you can get cell phone reception.
By following these five guidelines you can save money on your car expenses. You’ll be able to buy gas for lower prices. Your car will consume less fuel so you will spend less time at the pump. You’ll be able to stop paying for unnecessary maintenance and need fewer tires over the life of your car. You’ll get fewer tickets and avoid costly increases in your auto insurance premiums. Use these simple ideas to keep more money in your pocket where it belongs.