Auto Repair

Fiirst, find an honest and trustworthy mechanic. This is crucial. Ask your friends, or check out two or three mechanics asking them to give you an estimate for some work you know has to be done on your car.

It may seem like a hassle, but remember, it's always best to get an alternative opinion on any major repair job that has to be done on your car.

Here are some preventative tips to keep your car running well, and avoid having to take it to a mechanic.

Keep your gas tank filled. This will help you avoid the gas line freezing up in cold weather. When you drive on "fumes" you are giving the little pieces of dirt and sediment at the bottom of your gas tank to run through the fuel lines with the last drops of gas. This debris will often clog up the fuel filter and can cause carburetor damage as well.

Stop and go traffic causes excess wear and tear on your vehicle. If you do a lot of city driving where you rarely get above 25 mph, give your car a 20 or 30 minute run every couple of weeks on the highway.

Remember that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas. The faster you go once you hit your car's optimal speed, the less efficient it runs. Using cruise control on highway runs will also save gas in most cases.

Replacing a clogged air filter can also improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. This isn't going to cost you an arm or leg either.

When you add up all the ways to save money on your vehicle - whether those savings are on repairs or on gas consumption, you might be persuaded to put away the extra each month for a new car down the road!