By Bob Cerullo

(Reprinted with permission from Parade Magazine)

We all want a car we can trust. But can your car trust you? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• When did you last check the motor oil? It’s a simple chore that requires nothing more than a clean paper towel, knowing how to open the hood and how to remove and read the oil dip stick. Yet too many car-owners never even check their motor oil level between oil change. If there are no leaks, there is no problem. But, if even a slight leak develops, eventually the motor oil level will drop to a point where the engine is starved for oil, leading to premature engine-bearing wear. Without enough oil, the bearings heat up and, in a very short period of time, they melt—destroying the engine. Waiting for the oil pressure warning light to tip you off to low oil may be too late.
• Do you pay thousands for a car, then try to save money by putting off needed repairs—potentially risking your life and those riding with or near you? Many car-owners, particularly in these hard economic times, will ignore symptoms of a problem. But that can end up being far more expensive. For example, hard starting on a cold morning might, on modem fuel-injected cars, mean nothing more than a defective engine coolant temperature sensor, which can be replaced for less than $100. Yet, if you ignore the problem you risk damage to the starter, premature battery failure and gasoline contamination of the motor oil—along with the premature wear on piston rings and bearings that this will cause—and you may contribute to the demise of your costly catalytic converter.
• Do you follow recommendations in the owner’s manual for the care of your car and tires? Frequent oil and filter changes using the best-quality motor oil and oil filter are our best protection against premature engine failure. However, your responsibility doesn’t end there. You should not rely solely on your car dealer or mechanic to suggest needed services like automatic transmission fluid and filter changes. Read the owner’s manual for specific recommendations. Keep detailed records of when services are due. Heed the manufacturer’s suggested interval for transmission fluid and filter service or risk transmission failure, which can cost up to $1500 to repair. For heavy-duty city driving, change the transmission filter and fluid every 25,000 miles. Change your engine oil and filter every 3000 miles.
• What are your priorities? Some car-owners will spend $300 to repair a car’s air conditioner, when they have nearly bald tires and are in desperate need of a wheel alignment. If your car needs an air-conditioner repair and set of tires, the tires should be the top priority. But first determine whether the wear was normal or caused by misalignment, which can grind rubber off the tires unnecessarily. While the tires are being replaced and the wheels are off the car, it is an ideal time to check the brakes. Catching the worn brake pads before they damage the disc-brake rotors could save you up to $150, the price of brake-rotor replacements. Examine tire treads and air pressure monthly.
• What’s your definition of a ‘tune-up”? A tune-up should check and replace, as needed spark plugs, air and fuel filters, breather and pcv valve. Battery, alternator, starter, belts and cooling systems also should be looked at. Most important, a tune-up should be the time when a thorough engine analysis is performed. A check for emission gases coming out of tailpipes is especially important, both to ensure that your car passes motor vehicle inspections in many states and to determine how efficiently its engine is operating. Ask your mechanic to provide you with copies of reports of the diagnostic part of your tune-up.

Your car depends on you to provide the attention and maintenance needed for, long-lasting performance.