Car Improvements You Can Afford

Car repairs and improvements are one of the things that drivers will put off because they don’t believe they can afford to make those repairs. The problem is that sometimes those repairs or improvements could be the difference between life and death when driving at high speeds down the highway.

Here’s a look at some basic car improvements or repairs you can do to your car that will hardly put a dent in your wallet.

Oil Change

An oil change is one of the easiest things to do to your car and the cost associated with it is very low. The cost is low because changing oil only requires you to buy new oil and manually replace it. By doing it yourself you eliminate the need to pay overhead charges such as labor, time without your car, or oil disposal.

Tire Change and Tire Pressure

Checking your tires’ air pressure and condition takes a few minutes and can prevent you from being involved in a major accident. Just take a few minutes to check the tires for punctures, low tread and other problems that can cause the tire to break. Air pressure can be checked at a gas station and the air replaced for a minimum charge.

Whether you want to pay with a Vision prepaid credit card or with cash, changing a car’s oil or checking the condition and air pressure of the car’s tires are things you can do to improve the condition of your car without having to break the bank.

Car Maintenance for Long Vacations

If you’re planning a long vacation, it is important that your car is in perfect working condition before driving a long distance. You don’t want car troubles to interrupt a nice vacation. It’s simple enough to take your car into a garage to get checked, but you can also do it yourself. Here are a few tips on things you may want to check.

Oil

You may not be due for an oil change, but if you’re going to need one with all the miles you’ll be putting on your car, you may want to change the oil before you go on your trip. This is a simple do-it-yourself essential that can prevent you from having problems on the road.

Tires

It is important that your tires are in good condition before you leave. Check the pressure and tread. This is an important piece of car maintenance for a long trip because your tires will begin to wear as you travel.

Battery

Many people have problems with their car batteries while they’re on vacation. Simply check the cables and make sure your battery is in good condition before you leave.

Brakes

Checking your brakes is important to preparing your car for vacation. If you’ve been having problems, make sure you replace them before you leave on your trip.

Air Conditioning

If you’re traveling in the summer or to a warmer climate, your comfort is probably a priority. Make sure your air conditioner is working or, if you’re traveling to a cooler climate, that your heat is properly working.

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How to Calculate Gas Mileage

A mechanical odometer with trip meter below.

Image via Wikipedia

If it seems like you’re paying too much for gas, you may be wondering what type of gas mileage your car gets. The more miles you use on a tank of gas, the cheaper gas will be for you. If you’re not quite sure how to calculate your mileage, follow these simple steps.

Fill Up and Set Your Trip Odometer

To figure out your average gas mileage, you will have to drive around to get a specific record for your car. Begin by filling your tank to the top and then set your trip odometer. Setting your odometer will help you get an accurate distance traveled that you will use to figure out your mileage, so it’s important to set it before you even pull out of the gas station. It is also important to fill the tank completely to get the right number for the next step.

Drive and Fill the Tank

This step can take several days to complete because you will need to drive several hundred miles to get the most accurate estimate. Don’t go out of your way to drive; simply go about your normal tasks. Once your trip odometer gets into the two or three hundreds, fill the tank completely again. This will give you the amount of gas that was used since you last filled up. You can find this number on the gas pump by reading how many gallons you just purchased.

Do the Math

Your mileage is going to equal the distance traveled divided by the amount of gas you used. So, take the number on the trip odometer and divide it by how many gallons you just bought. This will give you a very close estimate to how well your gas mileage is.