In our daily use of vehicles, there are actually many areas where a little attention can save you a significant amount on car maintenance costs. Here are 7 money-saving tips to help you become a savvy consumer, making vehicle use easier and more convenient.
Everyone says: buying a car is easy, but maintaining it is hard. Indeed, in this era of low per capita income and high profits in both buying and maintaining cars, becoming a car owner is no easy feat, so we need to be smart about it. In our daily use of vehicles, there are actually many areas where a little attention can save you a significant amount on car maintenance costs. Here are 7 money-saving tips to help you become a savvy consumer, making vehicle use easier and more convenient.
1. Scientific and Reasonable Car Maintenance
The car maintenance cycle refers to the interval distance or time between car servicing. Frequent maintenance is not a bad thing—it can more effectively ensure the performance of your vehicle. In the early stages of car use, maintenance is mainly routine, and the costs are relatively low; when the vehicle has been used for a certain number of years or driven a certain number of miles, it enters the repair phase, and costs become relatively higher. Scientifically determining the intervals for various maintenance tasks can not only keep your car in good technical condition but also help you save on maintenance and repair expenses. However, when deciding on a car maintenance cycle, you should refer to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and adjust it appropriately based on the actual condition of the vehicle and its usage. Be cautious about the maintenance cycles recommended by specific repair dealers, as after all, they are in the business to make money. Generally, for a new car in good condition, you can extend the maintenance cycle appropriately; whereas for a car in poor condition or used under harsh conditions, you should shorten the maintenance cycle accordingly.
2. Replace Simple Parts Yourself
The air filter and wiper are essential auxiliary components of a car. The air filter is the first “checkpoint” that air goes through before entering the engine; its role is to filter out dust and impurities in the air to ensure that the air entering the engine is clean. The wiper, on the other hand, enhances the safety of driving during rainy seasons.
Generally, a car’s air filter needs to be replaced every 20,000 kilometers and checked at 10,000 kilometers, while wipers should be replaced every six months to a year. It can be said that the air filter and wiper are among the least expensive parts in a car, and their inspection and replacement are very simple—making a special trip to a repair shop just for these is a waste of time and money.
3. Purchase Insurance Wisely
Many car owners often purchase “excess insurance” or “underinsured insurance” when buying car insurance. Excess insurance means the insured amount is higher than the actual value of the insured item. For example, if you buy a car worth 120,000 yuan and insure it for theft with a coverage of 300,000 yuan, in the event of a total loss, you will only receive 120,000 yuan in compensation. Article 39, Paragraph 2 of the Insurance Law stipulates: the insured amount shall not exceed the insured value; any amount exceeding the insured value is invalid. That is, the insured can only receive corresponding compensation when the insured item is damaged, and cannot profit beyond the value of the insured item. On the other hand, underinsured insurance refers to an insured amount lower than the actual value of the insured item. In such cases, compensation is made “proportionally.” Using the same example, if the insured amount for the year is 50,000 yuan, which is 70,000 yuan less than the actual value, then in the event of a total loss, you will only be compensated 50,000 yuan.
4. Replace Your Filters
Always pay attention to cleaning your car’s filters. Don’t underestimate them—they directly affect your car’s fuel consumption and more. During the use of a car’s internal combustion engine, dust and other impurities continuously mix into the engine oil. Meanwhile, the oxidation effect of air and exhaust gases on the engine oil can gradually produce sludge or varnish, which not only accelerates the wear of parts but also easily leads to clogged oil passages. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean your car’s filters. Currently, most sedan engines use spin-on oil filters, which are disposable and non-washable. When changing the lubricating oil, the oil filter must be replaced at the same time; otherwise, it will affect the quality of the lubricating oil. The replacement cycle for engine oil and oil filters is generally every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers. Oil filters have arrows indicating the direction of oil flow—be sure not to install them backwards when replacing.
5. Proper Tire Inflation
Correct tire pressure is the most important aspect of a safety check.