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New Year’s Resolutions for your Car

By Madison D’Angelo
January 6th, 2015

It’s that time for New Year’s resolutions again…

It’s the beginning of a new year and for many people, this means New Year’s resolutions. Goals, plans, and significant changes to take better care of yourself this year. But what about your car? You probably rely on it more than you know, so why not take better care if it this year too? Here are some New Year’s resolutions you should make for your vehicle. This year, my car will…

Be healthy. 

Get a tune up. Check your oil level, check your washer fluid, is there any maintenance that you’ve been putting off? Now’s the time.

Be green. 

There are so many ways to be more fuel efficient. Are you really taking the quickest route to where you need to go? Maybe you can carpool with a coworker one day a week. Do you really need to drive to the mailbox?

Save money.

Goes hand in hand with being green. A more fuel efficient car will save you money on gas. Try a simple fix like cleaning your air filter, more flow through the air induction system = better fuel efficiency. Another important thing, especially in the cold temperatures, is to check your tire pressure. This can make a huge difference.

Shed the extra pounds.

Clear out your car. Wipe the snow off. Do you need everything that’s in your trunk? If you haven’t used that roof rack in a while, take it off. Shedding the extra weight is another way to fuel efficiency.

Quit smoking. 

Idling too much is hurting the environment, and your wallet. On cold winter days, 2 to 3 minutes  is sufficient to allow the engine proper lubrication.

Cut down on stress. 

Battery stress, that is. Trust me, you don’t want your batty to die this time of year! Don’t leave things plugged in to the outlets, make sure to turn lights off, and avoid short trips without allotting yourself the time to let the car warm up.

Keep in touch. 

…With your dealership. Follow their recommended maintenance schedule, and don’t put off tune-ups or oil changes.

Travel. 

Spend some valuable time with your car and go for a road trip! Get to know it well and how it responds in different conditions, you will have a better idea then when something goes wrong. Plus you can visit that big cheese factory that’s only a few hours away!

Remember, you should take care of your car the way you would take care of yourself. It will last longer, have higher fuel efficiency, less pollution, better safety, and a higher resale value. Be good to yourself and your vehicle!

Happy 2015!