If the check engine light is a constant companion in your car, this post is for you. And we get it, we really do. Money’s tight, and you can only pay for so many things before whipping out the credit card. We have a few reasons why being proactive can cost you the least amount of money—in the long run.
Preventive maintenance stops small problems from growing
This is the case of a $600 repair being caused because a $9 part failed. Preventive maintenance aims to replace all the low-cost, disposable items in your car (engine oil, air filters, timing belts, etc.) that keep the high-cost items (transmission, differential, chassis, etc.) in good standing.
Think of it this way: if you could regularly replace your stomach with a flatter, trimmer version, and pop in a new, cholesterol-free heart for $50, wouldn’t that be less expensive than bigger health issues?
It also keeps the cost of operation low
When your tires are properly inflated, you get better fuel economy. When your wheels are aligned, they wear more evenly. When the spark plugs are fresh, they burn fuel more efficiently.
All of these things not only get you the most out of a gallon of fuel—they also reduce strain on those high-cost engine components we talked about earlier. This increases the lifespan of your car and helps it to last longer. Want to get 300,000 or 400,000 miles before your car dies? Take care of it.
It helps you to avoid collisions
When your brake pads and rotors (some call them discs) are new, you stop faster. When your power steering fluid is full, you can steer best. And when your transmission fluid is clean, you can get power quickly when you need it.
All of these could help you escape a collision by getting you a few inches out of the way. Many times that’s all that’s needed. When your car is in top condition, you’ll have a better chance of stopping or accelerating away from a dangerous and expensive situation.
Conclusion
It’s up to you. Should you decide to have a few things done, of course we’ll be here to help. If you’d like to contribute to the discussion, feel free to post on our Facebook.