by JQ Adams

Created on: May 11, 2009

There are a few industries and markets which are thriving in a 'down' economy. One such market is the automobile repair business. More people are opting to fix their vehicles rather than trade them in and risk not being able to make the payments should they lose their jobs.

This means more miles on your car and that means that you will encounter repairs as a result. If you determine that you will attempt to stretch more life out of your automobile, then you need to follow some tips to help make sure you get as much out of it as you can.

Are you 'handy' with a wrench? Some repair and maintenance jobs are easy but others are difficult and should not me attempted by yourself. Here is what you should do in order to squeeze more miles from your vehicle.

Regularly Scheduled Maintenance. Oil and other fluid changes. Most manufacturers recommend between 3,000 to 4,000 miles between oil changes. But with synthetic oils you can push that up to twice as high. The important thing to remember, though, is that the more often you change your oil, the longer your engine will last. It is the breakdown in the viscosity (ability for oil to work at its peak) that will increase the wear on your engine and cause it to wear out sooner than it would otherwise. Be sure to follow your manufacturers recommendations for oil changes, and if anything, err on the side of too often rather than too infrequently.

Other maintenance items. Once your car pushes the 100,000 mile mark, you will have to pay attention to other significant items which begin to show wear and can break down at any time. Ball joints, catalytic converters and mufflers, shocks and struts all fall into this category. In addition, things like the serpentine belt, alternator, water pump and hoses will need to be checked as well. Most of these items show wear to the naked eye however, not all of them do.

The best thing to do is to take a proactive approach to repairs by scheduling time for the vehicle to be checked by a reputable service center. Following the manufacturers recommendations found in the manual is a good place to start. Get it out and heed what it tells you.

The good news is that if you take care of your vehicle in this manner, you will add years and miles to the car and it will hold up better as well as hold its value longer which will be good when it comes time to trade it in or sell it outright.

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