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Hyper-milers drive in a certain manner in order to squeeze out every last drop in their fuel tank. They drive smoothly and don’t accelerate or stop abruptly. They maximize drag by removing things from their car that they really don’t need to be carrying on a daily basis. Less weight is better. Coasting is another way to increase mileage as is anticipating the flow of traffic. Here are a few ways to easily maintain your car without spending anything.

An old proverb states that you can either pay the mechanic now or later. So let’s start there. The first step is to have a mechanic you can trust who can give you accurate repair estimates.

Having your vehicle maintained on a regular basis is quite important. Read the owners manual so you know what intervals of maintenance are needed for your car. Stick to the routine. If you don’t have the manual you can easily find a copy on the world wide web.

It is crucial to have your oil changed on a steady basis. Driving your car without enough oil or with dirty oil on a regular basis will destroy your engine. Newer cars have engine oil change intervals of every 5,000 – -7,000 miles. Also remember to check the fluid level between oil changes. Your driving habits and car all play a role in how often you will need to change fluids. I have a short commute and drive slowly in stop and go city traffic, so I check my oil every other time I get a fill up. If you are doing a lot of long commutes and freeway driving you should probably check it more often. Older cars use up more oil than vehicles that have been manufactures more recently.

Checking the level of coolant is the next step. You are under the hood checking the oil so take the few extra minutes and check the coolant level. Never check this when the engine is hot. Wait for the car to cool down first.

Take a look at your battery and make sure you don’t have any worn out wires. If you do find anything out of the ordinary be sure to let your mechanic know. This preventative maintenance is all about making sure a small item doesn’t become a large bill (pay now or pay later – remember?)

Checking your tires and tire pressure is also rather important. The correct PSI (pound per square inch) pressure is stamped on the tire or should be locatable on a label on the driver side doorjamb. Also make sure the tires aren’t worn out or bald since this can be extremely dangerous, even more so during rainy weather.

Make sure that there aren’t any fluids leaking from your auto. This is best done on a flat clean driveway or parking lot. Note that you may see some pooling if you have been running your air conditioner. Condensation will drop to the pavement and this is standard.

If you don’t know how to check all of these items, ask someone who is knowledgeable about cars to show you and take notes. These simple and easy steps can help save a ton on car repair costs in the future!

Written by Jacqueline Star: Fort Worth Ford Maintaining Your Car’s Finish