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AUTOMOTIVE
ON THE ROAD
How to maintain that older vehicle
New cars have been costly for quite some time, but those costs have spiked considerably since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That unprecedented rise has led many motorists to wonder how they can get more mileage out of their existing vehicles.
According to data from Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive, the average cost of a new car in September 2021 was just over $45,000. That marked a $3,000 increase from June 2021 and a $5,000 increase from the end of 2020.
• Take care of the timing
belt. Engines may get all the glory, but they cannot run smoothly without a fully functional timing belt.
Engines need various components to do their job, and those components must do so at the right time for the engine to run smoothly. Fully functional timing belts help to synchronize movements, but belts must be replaced every so often.
Ownerʼs manuals may note when to replace the timing belt, but they generally must be replaced every 60,000 to 105,000 miles. Thatʼs infrequent, but drivers can ask their mechanics to keep an eye on their timing belts.
One issue many drivers encountered in the early months of the pandemic when people were driving less frequently was timing belts that were failing long before they reached the projected mile markers. Thatʼs because infrequent driving can hasten the demise of the timing belt. This is something for aging drivers who no longer drive a lot to keep in mind.
• Take care of the brakes and associated components.
The experts at Popular Mechanics urge drivers of older vehicles to replace their brake fluid every two years. Popular Mechanics also advises drivers whose cars are more than seven years old to replace the rubber brake lines when major brake work is required.
• Pay attention to oil lev-
els. The older engines get, the more oil theyʼre going to burn. So drivers of older vehicles should check their oil levels more often than they would if their vehicles were brand new.
This also is a great way to discover leaks before they lead to potentially significant issues.
• Donʼt skip maintenance
appointments. Even if youʼre still driving less due to the pandemic, itʼs best not to skip recommended maintenance intervals. Thatʼs true for drivers of all cars, but especially those whose vehicles are aging. Routine tuneups and oil changes, which may need to become more frequent the older the vehicle gets, can keep cars running smoothly and protect the engine over the long haul.
The rising cost of new cars is compelling millions of drivers to keep their cars longer than they might have anticipated. Some simple maintenance measures can help those cars run strong for years to come.
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Drivers who can’t yet afford to keep up with the rising cost of new vehicles can take these steps to keep their existing cars running smoothly for years to come.
Simple strategies for more efficient driving
Drivers likely need no reminder that the cost of fuel is high. In November 2021, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicated the average price per gallon of fuel was $3.39. That marked a seven-year high and an increase of $1.29 in just 12 months.
The good news for motorists is the EIA anticipated that fuel prices would drop considerably in 2022, with estimates suggesting a gallon of fuel will cost an average of $2.88 in the early months of the year.
Drivers will no doubt welcome that decline with open arms, but filling up with less costly fuel is not the only way they can save money. Learning how to be a more efficient driver is a great way to improve gas mileage and take some of the sting out of filling up.
• Take it easy behind the
wheel. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports that aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 30 percent when driving at highway speeds and 40 percent when driving in stop-and-go traffic. Avoid speeding and rapid acceleration and braking.
• Utilize in-vehicle energy
feedback. A recent study from researchers at the Institute of Transportation Studies found that drivers who used driver feedback devices in their vehicles in an effort to save fuel improved their gas mileage by about 10 percent. Many modern vehicles are equipped with such devices, and drivers can learn to use them and reap the rewards with less frequent trips to the filling station.
• Keep cargo off the roof.
Rooftop cargo boxes can be convenient when traveling on vacations. However, researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory report that such boxes can reduce fuel economy by a significant per-
centage depending on where drivers are driving. City drivers with rooftop cargo boxes may experience a 2 to 8 percent decline in fuel economy, while vacationers traveling at interstate speeds may notice a decline as high as 25 percent. Cargo boxes are convenient, but theyʼre not very aerodynamic, so itʼs best to remove them after returning home from vacation. • Avoid idling. Idling was once advised to warm up vehicles so they did not stall once they leave the driveway and hit the open road. However, that stalling occurred when cold carburetors could not get the appropriate mix of air and fuel in the engine. But carburetors Learning easy efficiencies in driving is a have long since been great way to improve gas mileage and take replaced by electronic fuel some of the sting out of filling up. injection systems, negating the need to warm up a vehicle to avoid stalling. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy note that modern engines will warm up by being driven and urge drivers to avoid warming up their cars for more than 30 seconds. High fuel costs make it advantageous for drivers to embrace efficient driving, which can save a substantial amount of money at the gas pump.
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