How to care for your car without breaking the bank

With all the other expenses you have to contend with, it's easy to put your car on the back-burner

June 21, 2016

Riana Joubert 2 minutes read

Cleaning grime from the engine bay can assist car owners in getting to know their car engine better and find small problems that could lead to bigger issues if they go unnoticed.

POLOKWANE – Local oval track racer and motor technician, Barend Pieterse, gives tips on things you can do to make your car look and drive better while saving money.

Barend says its easy for people who have the money to pump up their car’s performance with a new fuel injection system or have some serious changes made to the car’s engine.

But for those of you who don’t have that luxury, Barend has a few tips and tricks to take care of your car without breaking the bank:

1. Clean all the grime from the engine bay and get under the car too. The cleaning pays off because all that time spent tidying up the car is also time spent inspecting it. This is your chance to uncover hidden problems that can impact the running of the car.

2. Trade your old radio head unit for one that integrates with an iPod, iPhone or satellite radio, and includes Bluetooth connection for a cellphone. This will modernise the look of your car.

3. Aftermarket intake systems and air filters don’t work miracles, but they can open up an older engine’s inhalation system and kick up output a by few horsepower. This also makes an older car look a lot better.

4. Like your home air conditioner, your car’s air conditioner can suffer buildup of mold, mildew and bacteria. To clean the system, make sure the air coming into the system isn’t first passing through leaves, dust or other accumulated grime in the air passageways.

5. Put life back into the colour of your car. You can easily remove plastic trim pieces on your car’s exterior and repaint them with a spray can. It makes a big difference on black parts that have weathered to a dull gray.

6. Your car should be serviced regularly. Shocks, springs, dampers, struts, brake rotors and pads may seem like normal service items, but replacing them can make a huge difference in the way the car drives.

7. Check your tyres. Getting better performance from your tyres can be as simple as making sure they’re properly inflated.

Barend says you should speak to your local car dealers and salesmen for more deals and advice on what you can do at home to make your vehicle run better. He warns that you should make sure you get genuine parts as cheaper models do not last as long and may lead to more problems in the long run.