728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Your Automobile › Kyle's Corner

Kyle's Corner

Tips to Make Your Vehicle Go the Distance

By Kyle Busch

Pages:  1  2  3  

If you are on a tight budget, or even on an unlimited budget, you know how important it is to make the most of what you have.

Getting More Miles Out of Your Car
The following are some tips that will help you to get more miles out of your vehicle.

  • First, consider, does your vehicle actually have the ability to run many miles without incurring costly repairs? Find out by visiting a public library to consult the frequency-of-repair information in the April magazine issue of Consumer Reports. If your vehicle has a poor repair history, consider buying a vehicle that has better ratings and fuel efficiency.

  • If you want to extend the life of your vehicle, at the beginning of each month, have the engine oil level checked to make certain that it is at the full-level mark on the dipstick. Buying two quarts of oil that are on sale and keeping it in the trunk will enable you to avoid getting stuck paying three times what the oil should cost. Be certain to only use the type of oil and other fluids as specified in the vehicle owner's manual.

  • Every three months (more often, however, if specified by your vehicle owner's manual) and prior to leaving for and upon returning from a trip, check (or have a service station attendant check) the tire pressure and the other fluids that include:

    • Transmission fluid
    • Brake fluid
    • Power steering fluid
    • Radiator coolant (check the clear plastic bottle)
    • Windshield washer fluid

    Why is it important to keep the fluids at their full-level marks? The fluids lubricate moving parts to reduce friction, heat and wear. Therefore, they are the single most important factor for extending the life of a vehicle.

  • If you drive 6,000 miles or less per year, have the engine oil and oil filter changed at the beginning of spring and near the end of fall. If you drive 10,000 or more miles per year, have the engine oil and oil filter changed every 3,000 to 3,500 miles or about every four months. An easy way to remember oil changes is to mark a new calendar at the beginning of a year with "oil change" reminders (i.e., May and November or April, July and October).


    Pages:  1  2  3  


    Want to see more?