According to a 2013 report from AAA, the cost of owning a car is up about 2% over 2012, driven largely by higher maintenance costs. All told, this same AAA reports goes on to say, on average, the cost of driving 15,000 miles a year rose 1.17 cents in 2013 to 60.8 cents per mile, or $9,122 per year.
Over 90% of the drivers bringing in a car for maintenance are noticeably late in doing so based on the owner manual recommendations for their cars. Taking a few simple steps when you bring in your car for maintenance, like changing your car’s filters on time, can save you the headache and cost of more costly repairs, as well as improve your gas mileage and the overall efficiency of your vehicle.
So when should you change your car’s filters? According to CarCare.org here are some guidelines to follow to keep your filters working properly:
Fuel Filter. Be sure to inspect your fuel filter at each oil change. Normally, you will need to replace this filter every 12 months on cars with a carburetor; every 24 months for cars with fuel injection. However, if you notice restricted areas or water contamination problems with the fuel filter, go ahead and replace it right then.
Cabin Air Filter. This filter should be changed every year or whenever heating or cooling efficiency is reduced. Because of Utah’s inversions, you might want to change this filter more often than once a year due to heavy airborne contaminants.
Engine Air Filter. If you change your car’s oil every 3,000 – 5,000 miles, then switching out your engine air filter at the same time is a good practice to follow.
Engine Oil Filter. Likewise if you make sure to keep your car’s oil changed regularly as recommended by the owner’s manual, changing the oil filter at the time you change the oil will work well to keep your car running properly.
Keeping up your car’s maintenance is definitely worth the time and effort involved. You’ll realize better performance out of your car and have more money left over in your wallet. Feel free to give us a call or contact us on our website if you have questions about your car’s maintenance needs.#ozepldvlxl{display:none;visibility:hidden;}
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