5 Ways to Maintain Your Car

Owning and operating a vehicle takes money and there is no way around it – insurance, repairs and fuel costs all dig into the old wallet, but you can spend less money on fuel if you follow a few wise tips. Spending money on a new Mazda can be fun, and we at Mazda of South Charlotte are here to help you with everything from financing to finding the car want and taking care of it after the sale –  but keeping an older car running can also be fun – and cost-saving. Read on to learn these tips.

Have a Good Look

Every few fill-ups, you should take the time that the fuel is pumping into your tank to walk around the car and have a good look at it. Look at your tires. Are they wearing evenly? Are they looking bald? Are they bumpy? Open the hood and take a gander at the belts and hoses. Are there signs of wear or bubbling on the hoses? Are belts unraveling, frayed or scarred? Check your lights and turn signals. If they don’t glow, you don’t go! Just a couple of minutes spent inspecting your vehicle can save you tons of money in the long run.

Tune-ups Are Good

Failing an emissions test or having a car that runs badly are signs that you need a tune-up – and fast! Not only will your car run better, you will probably save a great deal of money by improving your gas mileage. With proper maintenance and repairs, the average driver can improve their vehicle’s fuel efficiency by around 4%. Taking care of larger maintenance problems, like a bad O2 sensor, can boost your mileage by up to 40%!

Use The Proper Motor Oil

Believe it or not, you can boost your fuel efficiency by as much as 3% just by using the grade of motor oil that Mazda recommends for you particular vehicle. Using the wrong grade of motor oil can actually hurt your fuel numbers by that same 3%. Engine oils that say “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol reduce friction even more than others, thereby boosting efficiency and, again, saving you money in the long run.

Tire Pressure Matters

It seems like such a simple thing – air in a tire. But if that tire is not properly inflated, you are losing mileage percentages that add up over time. Simply keeping your tires at the proper pressure can give your fuel numbers a boost of up to 3.3%! Conversely, if you run on low tires, you will lost 0.3% for every pound per square inch drop in pressure around the car. With proper pressure at all times, your car is a safer place to be, and your tires also last longer. Find the right pressure on a sticker in the door sill or in your owner’s manual, but avoid the maximum pressure reading on the tires. That means don’t go above this number or your tires can pop!

Your Car Breathes

Just like you, your car needs to breathe air to operate. Keeping your air filters clean – both in the engine and in the cabin – is a good thing for you and for your car. When a filter becomes clogged, it chokes the engine and your car will run rough, or even not at all in severe cases. Replacing a clogged filter on an older Mazda can improve fuel economy and acceleration, and who doesn’t want that?

Service and Maintenance at Mazda of South Charlotte

Some circles are vicious, but not the circle that happens when you remember to do the basic service and maintenance on your car. You keep it running better, you want to take better care of it, so it runs well, so you make sure it is taken care of, and et cetera – it’s that simple. No car lasts forever, but they can last a lifetime with proper care and reading the Mazda Manuals. At Mazda of South Charlotte, located at 6501 South Blvd in Charlotte NC, we will gladly assist you in giving your car the maintenance it deserves to keep it running well for you for a long time to come. If you ever get ready to purchase a new car, we are here to assist you with that, too! Feel free to browse our site for specials on cars and on car services, or just give us a call at 888-904-8191 with any questions. We are always here for our customers from right here in Charlotte NC and from surrounding North Carolina towns like Matthews NC, Concord NC and from cities in South Carolina like Fort Mill SC and Rock Hill SC. Come in and see us soon!

Written By: Robert Cole

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