Car owners know better than anyone that the maintenance of their car can cost a lot of money. Is the major MOT service coming again? Then some drivers squeeze it properly. Good news: you can ensure that less maintenance – and therefore costs – is required during the mandatory service. How? By maintaining the car itself well. And there are also ways to save money. We give you 11 saving tips for the maintenance of your car .
1. Pay for damage to the car yourself
Has your car been damaged? You can then choose to engage the insurer . You have insurance for that, right? Then you don’t have to cough up the costs yourself. Think again before you do that. If you use the car insurance, the claim-free years and with it the no-claim discount will change . If you go down the bonus-malus ladder , the premium will go up. The amount that you pay more for the insurance may be higher than the costs you have been reimbursed. It may therefore be worthwhile to pay for this yourself. So make a calculation for yourself in advance. Tip: request a quote from various repair companies.
Good to know : many insurers can give you an indication of the premium that you will pay after claiming damage . If you want to reverse the claim, you can often do so within a few months to a year. In this way, the insurer gives you the option to pay for the damage yourself, so that you keep the no-claim discount and claim-free years.
2. Drive by the book
Hard braking, sharp turns and racing on the road… these are all factors that can cause car parts to wear out faster. This means that they need to be replaced more quickly. In addition, you run a greater risk of driving chunks if you drive ‘less neatly’. This increases the chance of extra costs for maintenance or submitting the no-claim discount to your car insurer. Fuel consumption also increases due to heavy driving. Visit our automotive shop management system
3. Cover the car with a car cover
Do you not have a garage at home and is the car always outside? Then use a cover or car cover. This protects the car against weather conditions. Elements such as sand, salt (by the sea), tree resin and that oh-so-annoying bird droppings can be kept ‘outside’. Such a cover is also nice if there is an inattentive cyclist, car driver or walker who accidentally scrapes the car … Just hope that no grabbing car cover enthusiast comes along.
4. Keep track of liquids yourself
Don’t go to the garage for every trifle. Okay, if you really have two left hands, leave the maintenance to someone else. After all, it is all about safety on the road. But are simple interventions such as checking the oil level and topping up the coolant wiper fluid a piece of cake for you? Then perform these actions yourself. In addition to saving, you also immediately know what the condition of the car is. For example, do you often have to refill liquids? Then this could indicate a leak. Tip: read the car’s instruction booklet, you will probably get a long way. You can also find many instructional videos and advice on the internet .
5. Make sure you have the correct tire pressure yourself
Check the tire pressure a few times a year. Preferably once a month. The correct tire pressure ensures less wear on the car tires, lower fuel consumption and better road holding. Too low, but also too high, tire pressure increases the risk of a blowout. So know what the correct voltage is. This is between 2.0 and 3.0 bar, but this differs per tire .
6. Help the engine and its filters
The engine is the heart of the car. To keep it ‘healthy’ for as long as possible, it is important that the surrounding filters work optimally. For example, you have the air filter, which purifies the air that enters before it enters the engine. Substances such as pollen and bacteria come in here. Then there is the oil filter, which removes the dirt from the oil. If you replace the oil, replace the filter as well. There are also the fuel filter and the particulate filter (in diesel cars). Filters sometimes need to be replaced or cleaned. Around 50,000 kilometers. In this way, the engine continues to ensure good combustion, which reduces fuel consumption. The engine may suffer from poor combustion, requiring earlier replacement. Chech out garage invoice software
7. Replace lamps yourself if possible
In many modern cars it is very difficult to replace the lamps yourself. Everything has to be dismantled. Difficult and therefore more sensible to go to the garage. This is also recommended for replacement of xenon lamps. Can you replace the lamps yourself? Then check the instruction booklet for the necessary size of the lamp and more information. PS: it is useful to do this kind of work together with someone.
8. Use second-hand parts
Do you need to replace parts and do you do it yourself? Then you can often also purchase it second-hand. That will save you a lot of money. Of course, make sure you use a good part, otherwise it will need to be replaced again. Where can you find parts? For example at Marktplaats or the demolition. Are you going to the garage to replace a part? Then you can always indicate that you want a part to be replaced by a second-hand one. You must also get a guarantee on that. In addition to second-hand parts, you can of course also opt for unbranded parts. Are you working on the restoration of an old-timer ? Then there is a good chance that you will switch to second-hand anyway. Although it may be that those parts are not that cheap. But of course that’s not the point.
9. Go to the do-it-yourself garage
Do you have the job skills but not the space? Then you can choose to go to a do-it-yourself garage. Here you can rent tools, a key spot and even a bridge. Guidance is available and you can usually buy parts. The costs vary, but will most likely be a lot lower than if you take the car to the garage. Calculate how much renting a place will cost you approximately. This can be done based on what you have to rent and how long you think you will be busy. There is a good chance that the costs are a lot lower than if you have the job done by a mechanic. Check if there is a do-it-yourself garage nearby.
10. Sometimes to the garage: it can be cheaper this way
In addition to all the DIY (if you do), it is important to go to the garage every year. This way you can respond to bigger problems (and therefore costs) in time. You can reduce the costs for this garage visit. For example, request a price indication in advance, set a price or agree that the garage will call you if costs are higher. Know that there is a cost difference between a dealer, a Garage Plug, a brand specialist and a universal garage. The dealer is often expensive, unless your car is still in the warranty period. At Garage Plug you have a three-month warranty and rates are often somewhat lower for independent (universal) garage owners. Brand specialists often have access to second-hand parts, which can reduce costs. In short, choose wisely and according to your situation. To demonstrate that maintenance work has actually been carried out, the technician must complete the maintenance booklet.
11. Prepare the car properly for winter
You may not want to know about it yet, but the colder period will set in soon. Cars have a harder time in winter weather conditions. Proper care of the car is very important for the functioning of the car. This is what you can do: “Make sure the antifreeze and coolants are full and that windshield wipers are working. Check the tire pressure and the profile. Replace summer tires with winter tires. This gives you more grip on the road and less chance of lumps. Apply rubbers to doors so that they do not freeze shut. And do not put the car on the parking brake when it is freezing. This can then freeze. Parking mode or first gear are great alternatives – as long as you’re not parking on a slope. Do not run the engine warm at idle, it does not get any better. And … as we said before: use a car cover. You don’t have to scratch in the morning either. Fortunately, this tip is only available for around December. Now we can enjoy the sun for a while. Tip: wear sunglasses when you hit the road.
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https://garageplugsoftware.blogspot.com/2021/01/how-many-bar-should-there-be-in-car-tire.html
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