Whether you're looking to purchase an old car or currently
maintaining a relic, there are elements that many of us forget. A well
maintained vehicle can easily push you in upwards of 200,000km, while an
ill-maintained one may still do so, it will put a much bigger dent in your
wallet. Here are three common areas that can save you some cash:
Spark plugs
If they aren't firing properly, typically you will notice poor
fuel economy and a sluggish engine. I recently changed mine and surprisingly, I'm
fairly certain my fuel economy improved by at least 20%. Driving round-trip to
Newmarket used to eat up just over 1/5th of my tank and now it uses about 15%
(based on me "eyeballing" it, it would just be awkward if I whipped
out the protractor). These spark plugs are inexpensive and the benefits are
definitely worth it, especially in winter if your engine refuses to start one
day due to bad plugs. For those who are technically savvy, replace them
yourself and save even more money. (Preferably using a torque wrench)
Air conditioning system
If your vehicle is older than 5 years, make sure your A/C
system has adequate level of Freon. Low levels will cause excessive wear on
your A/C compressor because it will engage more often. Not only is the A/C
compressor expensive to replace, but it will cause your engine to consume more
fuel and rob performance. I was quoted $650 recently by my mechanic, you can expect
to be charged more at the "stealership". Your mechanic can probably top
off your Freon relatively cheap. If you must do it yourself which I don't recommend
because over filling can ALSO cause the same excessive wear situation with your
compressor, you can get a can of R12a from Part Source or Canadian Tire. You
won't be able to buy R134a or R12 unless you have a mechanic license, but R12a is
available off the rack because it isn't as environmentally damaging and you can
supposedly mix with the existing R134a or R12. If the leak is bad enough though,
be responsible and get that leak checked out, you will save your money and the
environment.
Aftermarket rims/wheels
Whether it's because you want to distract others with spinners
or because it was a necessity for a set of winter tires, the truth is that most
of the garden variety wheels you see aftermarket weigh substantially more than
OEM wheels. Not only does this extra weight translate into more fuel
consumption, it also means you need to brake harder to stop and thereby
consuming more brake pad material. If you're buying a used car, try to stay
away from cars with these wheels unless you know for a fact that it's one of
the premium lighter selections. If you must go aftermarket for whatever reason,
pay attention to the weight per wheel and choose a lighter one if possible. Oh and
depending on how much tire sidewall room you have, avoid gravity-cast wheels
because they get damaged much easier over potholes.
-TT
