You’ve no doubt heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” which means, more literally, spend a little now or a LOT later.

Nothing could be closer to the truth than when you’re keeping your car serviced and up to date on all maintenance. It’s a zero sum game. Simply keeping up your oil changes and filter on a regular schedule can help you to avoid a four or five thousand dollar engine overhaul, depending on what kind of car you have. It could even be more.

It’s all about friction and lubrication. All those moving metal parts inside your engine will ultimately suffer some wear and tear causing tiny microscopic pieces to come off into the engine case and grind against each other like tiny grains of sandpaper. Having good clean oil and a good filter at all times will keep this kind of damage from causing serious problems.

Like overheating. If you don’t change your oil regularly you’re in for the possibility of overheating your cars engine and causing parts to warp under the strain. Then it’s off to the shop or worse – engine replacement time.

Overheating that engine is not your friend in any circumstance.

Speaking of overheating, another top priority on your automobile maintenance list should be your cooling system, and I’m not talking about your air conditioner. Your car has a cooling system that originates with the radiator and goes through the whole engine system to make sure things keep cool. Keep your engines fluids on check and be sure to check for leaks of any kind that might pop up over time.

What’s the cheapest most common culprit for causing your car to overheat?
A worn out radiator cap. $5.99 or so at your local auto parts store. That’s a pretty cheap fix that beats the heck out of a whole new engine, don’t you agree?
Want more tips and tricks to keep your car running smoothly and your cash in your wallet? Check this out for more great info!