Keeping your car in good condition requires constant maintenance. Many people worry about spending a lot of money on their car, but it is important to find ways to save money while also ensuring road safety. For example, many drivers tend to invest in premium gasoline, change the engine oil frequently, or even buy fuel additives. It is also inevitable that, in addition to spending money unnecessarily, they will have wheel alignments or balancing done that are not really necessary, or even replace tires that sometimes do not need to be changed. If you want to be responsible and take care of both your car and its engine so that it will last for many more years, keep reading. Here are 10 examples of purchases you should avoid if you want to save money without compromising your car’s performance.
1. Premium gasoline when it is not necessary
Unless your vehicle manufacturer specifically recommends it, there is no reason to pay more for premium gasoline. In most cars, it does not improve performance or extend engine life, so it is just an extra expense.
2. Frequent engine maintenance
In the past, engines required regular tune-ups to run smoothly. Today, thanks to computerized systems and technological advances, those tune-ups are obsolete in many cases. Spending money on them will rarely make a difference in performance.
3. Unnecessary oil changes
The traditional advice to change your oil every 3,000 miles no longer applies. Modern engines and advances in oil formulation allow for longer intervals. Consult your vehicle manual to find out when it’s time and avoid unnecessary expenses.
4. Fuel additives
Additives that promise to clean your engine or improve performance are, in most cases, a waste of money. Today’s fuels already contain the necessary components to keep your engine running efficiently.
5. Front alignment without clear reasons
Hitting a pothole does not automatically mean that your vehicle needs an alignment. You only need to go to the repair shop if you notice that the steering wheel is pulling to one side or if the tires are wearing unevenly.
6. Unnecessarily replacing the entire set of tires
If only one tire is damaged, replacing all four makes no sense. Some sellers argue that it is necessary to maintain the balance of the vehicle, but if the others are in good condition, it is sufficient to replace only the damaged one.
7. Wheel covers
Although they may seem like a flashy accessory, wheel covers do not provide any real benefit to the car, and their popularity has declined over time. It is better to invest that money in something that does improve performance or safety.
8. Frequent tire balancing
Balancing should be done when new tires are installed, but repeating it regularly is not necessary. However, it is a good idea to rotate your tires every 5,000 miles to extend their life, especially on front-wheel-drive vehicles.
9. Headrest hooks
Although they seem useful for hanging bags or accessories, most cars have enough space on the floor or seats to store these items. Unless you have a specific need, this accessory is unnecessary.
10. Engine sound generators
Adding devices that mimic the sound of a powerful engine is a completely unnecessary expense. They do not improve performance or power and serve only as an expensive adornment that quickly loses its appeal.
Final tips: car owners flock to independent service centers to escape high prices
One of the key reasons that dealerships struggled to outperform independent shops was pricing. Consumer Reports notes that the overwhelming majority of dealers received the lowest possible rating when it came to price, with only Tesla and Acura seeing slightly improved scores. Another factor was vehicle age. The older the model, the less likely consumers were to take it to a franchise. That being said, dealers still dominated the repair market when it came to recent purchases. Roughly 80% of drivers who needed repairs on a 2023 model visited a dealership, compared to the mere 18% of owners with 2000 models.
