Hello everyone I am eager to join the Car Talk community even though I’m new to it. I like learning about automotive maintenance, solving typical auto issues, and figuring out doable solutions to keep a car in good working order.Which car maintenance habit or suggestion has helped you avoid significant repairs or save the most money? I’d love to learn from the community and hear about your experiences.Thank you and I’m excited for the conversations
Welcome to the community!
Our best habits are preventative maintenance and regular inspections by a mechanic or at least checking oil levels, watching for leaks, and being aware when something doesn’t feel or sound right.
We do 5k oil change intervals or at least once/yr at a shop we’ve used since 1993 that we trust to speak up if something is urgent but will keep a watch list. Previous car they said the clutch was starting to fail at 90k and still worked with 194k.
Our 17yr old Toyota Prius still drives and runs like new. Gets taken in at the first sign of a problem which thankfully other than a headlight going out its only needed an oil change and 5k physical. Having a regular mechanic you trust has saved us $$$$ compared to dealers and kept our cars reliable considering age and mileage. The car we replaced with 194k after 19yrs the school we donated it to said “that’s it?” when mom was disclosing all its known flaws. Still good enough for a student or work car.
Checking hoses can’t hurt, heater hose burst on Dads minivan at highway speed and luckily he coasted to an exit into a parking lot next to a gas station where he called home. Having a 10mi towing plan doesn’t work when you’re 40mi from home.