Single parents need to learn ways to keep cars running longer, because they will save themselves thousands of dollars in new car payments. Here are auto tips and info for vehicle maintenance, some big-time money savers, and rules for better gas mileage. Remember, little changes add up to big savings over time.
Keep Car Longer - Vehicle Maintenance
All parents have heard about following through with scheduled maintenance, but AARP Magazine, July/August 2009, has advice from drivers who have kept their cars far longer than most people. One car owner has driven his 1966 Volvo for 2.7 million miles. And, here are ideas from several people who have cars with 200,000 miles, or more:
- Read the owner’s manual. If lost, get one from a dealership or at Edmunds.com.
- At 50,000 miles (and every 50,000 afterwards), pay very close attention to oil, transmission fluid, and coolant levels. Owners with very high mileage check these, and tire pressure, at every fuel stop. One man takes his truck to the mechanic, for oil change and checkup, every 3,000 miles.
- Replace belts and hoses when showing signs of wear.
- Check the plastic or rubber “boots” that keep grime out of constant-velocity joints. Cheaper than replacement joints.
- Before 90,000 miles, replace timing belt.
- Armor All – For leather or vinyl exposed to sunlight.
- In snow, wash car weekly, including underside (for salt).
Take the car to a mechanic, not a dealer, because mechanics want customers to keep coming back, so they'll suggest things that extend the life of the car. A mechanic who becomes a friend will look for signs of trouble before it happens. On the other hand, some dealers might be more interested in selling someone a new car. To find a mechanic try:
- AAA.com
- Cartalk.com
- Look for: Certified by National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
Big-Time Money Saver – Keeping an Old Car
For a single mom or dad with little money, it seems difficult to afford extra car maintenance. But, it is worth it, even when paying more for auto work than the car originally cost. Here’s an example, using 5 years at 22,500 miles a year.
Keeping old car:
- 22,500 miles x 5 = 112,500 miles
- 30 oil changes x $40 = $1200
- Miscellaneous (filters, tire rotations, hoses) = $1,200
- One or two major items (brakes, shocks, timing belt) = $1,100
- Total = $3,500 or $700 a year
Buying new car:
- Purchase price = $20,000
- Put down $2,000. Finance $18,000 at 7% for 48 months
- Monthly payment = $430 or $5,160 a year
“Even if the maintenance costs were twice as high, a $1,400 annual expense still beats those car payments by almost $3,800 – which over five years comes to almost $19,000. In short, driving a car for five years after it’s paid off saves you the equivalent of a new car.” [AARP] And, driving it for 10 years, saves as much as two cars.
Better Gas Mileage
Here are some great driving tips for getting better gas mileage from Seattle Conscious Choice, January 2009. Here are a few:
- Don’t use the car like a closet. 100 lbs less increases mileage 2%.
- Remove luggage racks, bike racks, luggage carriers to increase aerodynamics and mileage.
- Under 40 mph, turn off air conditioning and open windows. Turn on air conditioning when over 40 mph, because open windows cause aerodynamic drag at that speed.
- When idling in a parking lot or driveway for more than one minute, turn off the engine.
- A clean and waxed car has less drag, at highway speeds, than a dirty one.
An employee in the service department of a dealership says, “Mechanics don’t want to spend any more time than they have to in a car that’s filled with trash and sticky with food.” But, they “pay attention” to a clean car. [AARP]
Single parents should follow rules to keep a car longer. They can save money by using preventative vehicle maintenance, realizing that old cars are money savers, and using less gas by following advice for better fuel mileage.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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