By: Jack Tagart

I love cars. Working on them, driving them, photographing them, you name it. Like most college students, money is often tight, and it is easy to neglect car maintenance to save money for a night out or weekend adventure. This is not only detrimental to your car, but also to your wallet and the world. You don’t need to be a master mechanic to get started.

 
 
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Preemptive car MAINTENANCE can save money in the long term.

Much like taking care of personal health, taking care of a car’s health can keep it running longer. Eating healthy is like giving a car an oil change. Sure, you can go some time without eating, but stop all together and you will suffer the consequences.

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Getting better MPG.

With any vehicle, the better better it’s put together, the better the fuel efficiency. While the engine may be running smoothly, you can never forget about the other things that go into a cleaner ride. Having properly inflated tires, good oil, and the right gasoline can lead to major results across the globe.

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A maintained car is a safe car.

Every year, millions of gallons of gasoline are burned from cars sitting in traffic because of a accident or a car stopped on the side of the road. While not all accidents are avoidable due to maintenance, there are many things that can be done to help minimize risk. Better breaking ability

TOP 5 things to check on your car today

1. Tire pressure

  • Takes about 2 minutes to check 4 tires

  • Easy to check any where with a tool the size of a pen

  • Tool can be purchased for as little as $5 at any auto parts store and many gas stations

2. Tire life

  • Bald tires are more prone to blow outs

  • Breaking time increases which can be dangerous in emergency situations

3. Break life

  • Breaks wear out over time and lose their ability to break

  • Many ways to visually check as well as hear

4. Oil level

  • Is you car low on oil?

  • It is impossible to check if it needs to be changed and is best to go based on mileage or time

  • Setting a reminder in your phone to repeat every 3 to 6 months is a fast and easy way to remember

  • All cars and driving habits are different, so plan based on your lifestyle

5. Coolant level

  • Low coolant leads to overheating, which is a fast way to destroy an engine.

  • Adding more coolant is as easy as pouring a glass of water

How does this save the world?

 
 

  • It is important to remember the big picture. Everything that goes into a throw-away society adds up. One small difference in your life multiplied by the millions of people on the planet sums to a giant difference. Saving fuel, reducing accidents, and smoother flowing traffic can have the same affect.

Number of motor vehicles registered in the United States from 1990 to 2016 (in 1,000s) [1]

Number of motor vehicles registered in the United States from 1990 to 2016 (in 1,000s) [1]

  • From 1990 to 2016 the US saw more than 70 million cars added to its road ways.

  • One gallon is an EASY goal to meet. In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported an average savings of 28 gallons over 8 years with properly inflated tires. [2] That is an average savings of 3.5 gallons of fuel a year. Starting small, and only worrying about tire pressure is a good way to start.

Save 3.5 gallons of fuel a year

  • General maintenance past oil changes can also save money at the pump. Oak Ridge National Laboratory reported that there was an average of 6.4% fuel efficiency drop due the simple need of a tune up. [3] To anyone but a trained and experienced mechanic, the vehicle could be working fine. 6.4% adds up QUICK!

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save 33 Gallons of fuel a year

  • It is easy to think one person can’t make a difference, but this is the furthest from the truth. Everyone spending money that is saved at the pump toward maintenance can cut emissions dramatically one car at a time.

SET YOU REMINDERS NOW!

 
 

Works Cited:

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/183505/number-of-vehicles-in-the-united-states-since-1990/

[2] Sivinski, R. (2012, November). Evaluation of the effectiveness of TPMS in proper
     tire pressure maintence (Report No. DOT HS 811 681). Washington, DC:
     National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

[3] Energy and Enviromental Analysis, Inc. (2001, December). Owner related fuel
     economy improvements. Retrieved from https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/
     OwnerRelatedFuelEconomyImprovements.pdf

Resource Links:

  1. https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/the-importance-of-proper-tire-inflation

  2. https://www.consumerreports.org/tires/when-to-replace-your-tires/

  3. https://www.consumerreports.org/tires/when-to-replace-your-tires/

  4. https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/warning-signs-you-need-new-brakes

  5. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/how-to-check-car-engine-oil/

  6. https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/vehicle-maintenance.php

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