Drivers aren’t keeping up with regular repairs. According to IMR’s syndicated Delayed Vehicle Maintenance Tracking Study, 7.9% of consumers report delaying essential vehicle maintenance. Drivers with used vehicles are more likely to hold off on repairs and services than those who drive new. The time and cost it takes to see a mechanic can deter drivers from fulfilling their obligations, but delaying will only lead to more costly tune-ups and reduced efficiency. If you struggle to make room in your schedule or budget for repairs, use five tips to stay one step ahead.
Buy Auto Parts Online
Your vehicle should last longer than individual parts with a set lifespan. Whether you visit a mechanic or repair the car yourself, you must replace components as they age or degrade to prevent problems from spreading. Ordering parts online will help you save money on repairs and time by not waiting for a mechanic to order them on your behalf.
Shop for diesel parts by make/model to get hard-to-find items delivered to the garage of your choice. Online retailers generally offer lower prices because they don’t have to spend as much money to keep the parts on hand for immediate use.
Do It Yourself (Whenever Possible)
Relying on a mechanic for all your repairs adds unnecessary complexity to what should be a relatively simple chore. If you hire a pro, you’ll need to rely on their schedule, wait for them to fix the car before getting back on the road and spend an extra $115 to $150 an hour on automotive labor, depending on the state.
Doing it yourself gives you more flexibility when servicing various systems, so you don’t have to wait for an appointment to complete your to-do list. Use YouTube tutorials, threads on the topic and your owner’s manual to tackle routine tasks like changing the oil, replacing filters and rotating your tires. You don’t have to be an expert to get to the bottom of a mystery. Use an OBD-II scanner to diagnose problems using the car’s computer.
You can’t do everything yourself, especially if you can’t identify the problem or lack the necessary equipment, but becoming more self-reliant helps you maintain your vehicle without a second thought.
Monitor Key Vehicle Performance Indicators
Maintaining your vehicle is all about timing. Minor changes in efficiency, acceleration, towing and braking power offer a preview of the problems to come unless you fix the issue right away. Reduced MPG ratings mean your vehicle is consuming more fuel than usual because the gas isn’t burning correctly or does not reach the combustion chamber. You may be able to avoid having to replace key sections of the fuel system by treating the clog or fixing the oil system to increase pressure.
Diesel vehicles are especially vulnerable to changes in fuel and oil quality. Track how much fuel you use, average braking distance, peak speeds, acceleration times and other KPIs to spot potential complications before they activate the check engine light. If fuel pressure remains low after changing the oil and fuel filter, replace the diesel pump to restore flow and clean or replace your fuel injectors to ensure a thorough burn.
Changing the oil won’t improve performance if debris has spread through the system. Replace the high-pressure oil pump (HPOP) to maintain oil and fuel pressure. Check the quality of your oil after driving with a fresh batch to see if there’s debris swimming in the tank.
Log Repairs, Incidents and Performance Data
The more data you collect on your car, the easier it is to track and anticipate repairs. Record every interaction with your vehicle in a spreadsheet to detect any clues your vehicle might be trying to send you.
Note the distance of every trip, fuel consumption, driving conditions and the condition of various systems during inspections. Write a list of the repairs made with the date to track the part’s lifespan so you know roughly when to replace it again. Keep the document in the cloud so you can access it on the go.
Set Reminders
Once you’ve gathered data on your vehicle, program your phone to alert you when repairs or services are needed based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. For example, if you drive an average of 300 miles a week and your model needs an oil change over 10,000 miles, you’ll need an oil change in 33 weeks. Add an event to your calendar so you don’t forget. If you swap out a part that lasts 50,000 miles, replace it after 162 weeks, or roughly three years.
Remember to account for idling, impromptu trips and temperature changes, which affect vehicle performance. Hauling heavy loads puts additional strain on the engine, thus requiring more frequent repairs. All vehicles gradually lose efficiency. Shorten the maintenance intervals as your vehicle ages.
Car Maintenance Made Easy
Your ride is only as good as its maintenance routine. Life may not always give you the time and money to care for your car as well as you’d like, but these tips make repairs a little easier. Track your vehicle like a professional by monitoring its performance. Learn how to recognize problems by their symptoms. And keep parts in stock to simplify the process so you don’t have to wait to drive.
