Vehicles account for one of the biggest lifetime expenses most people have. Because you will spend a lot of money purchasing a vehicle, and then incur extra costs for things such as insurance and maintenance, it’s important to protect your financial investment. Of all the costs related to owning and operating a vehicle, close to 40 percent of what you spend is lost through depreciation, and the decrease in value begins immediately.
One way to retain as much value for your vehicle as possible is to have your vehicle regularly maintained and repaired.
Get regular oil changes
Your vehicle needs oil to work properly. Running out of oil can cause extremely expensive vehicle damage because the engine may need to be replaced if enough damage is done. An oil change may only cost $25. The cost of an oil change can triple depending on the vehicle manufacturer and model, but even this cost is minimal compared to the the cost of replacing or repairing an engine, which reach more than $7,000. While you may be able to reduce costs by using a different mechanic or installing a new engine yourself, the expense is still significant. While you may be able to drive a vehicle with a dented bumper or cracked windshield, once your engine goes, your vehicle will be out of commission until repairs are complete. Regular oil changes are a small price to pay to keep your vehicle’s engine healthy.
Regular oil changes also have other benefits. Your vehicle won’t produce as much pollution with clean oil. And you’ll see returns through increased gas mileage. Oil changes ensure that your engine is clean, and clean engines perform better.
Exterior refinishing
Vehicle overspray isn’t just about making your car look nice. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are vandalized every year, and a high percentage of damage from vandalism involves damage to the vehicle’s body and paint. When paint is removed, the vehicle’s body is exposed to the elements and can begin to rust. Rust can cause extensive damage that may actually make it dangerous to operate your vehicle.
Your vehicle’s exterior is protected by paint and finishes that help prevent damage from rust, but your car isn’t at risk from only vandalism. Damage to the body from accidents, hail, and chemicals used to treat roads are other potential causes of rust.
In some cases, you may need to invest in overspray removal. This can be necessary if your vehicle has been exposed to things such as volcanic ash, cement or acid rain. This service can also be used to remove spray paint from vandalism. Investing in professional overspray removal services may be covered by insurance in some cases, or may be advisable to help prevent subsequent structural damage and to retain your vehicle’s value.
Have other fluids replaced and filled
Like oil, radiator fluid also helps ensure that your engine doesn’t overheat. By maintaining radiator fluid levels, you can help prevent your car from breaking down and needing to be towed. To maintain your vehicle’s transmission, changing or adding transmission fluid is also important, because it is needed to maintain your vehicle’s transmission to prevent expensive repairs.
Although you may associate topping up your windshield washer fluid with cleanliness, it’s actually about vehicle safety. Without a clean windshield, your visibility can be severely reduced, and this may keep you from seeing another vehicle or an animal that darts out onto the road. It’s also important to note that windshield washer fluid is graded for certain weather conditions, and you will need windshield washer fluid that’s capable of handling cold temperatures during winter months or your washer fluid will freeze.
Being able to stop your vehicle quickly is important for driver safety. Your vehicle’s brakes will not work as effectively without brake fluid, so ensuring your brake fluid is topped up regularly or replaced is important because it will prevent collisions.
