How to Keep That Loving Feeling

By Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington

Everybody loves the feeling of getting into a brand new car. It looks clean and neat, and has that great new car smell. It starts the moment you turn the key. It has great acceleration, is quiet on the road, and stops so smoothly. It would be great to get a new car every 2 years – but it is so expensive! Even with zero percent financing, a mid-size family sedan is going to cost over $400 per month. Most SUV’s will cost $600 to $800 per month.

You can maintain the enjoyment of a new car - beyond the life of the loan - by properly maintaining it. One of the most important aspects is your attitude about your car. Keeping your car clean both inside and out is one of the first steps. Many people think that spending $15 for a full service car wash is extravagant. But if you have your car cleaned every two weeks you will only spend $390 in a year. That is less than one car payment. And how else is today’s hectic Mom going to have a chance of keeping a car clean? (Husbands, want to really surprise your wife? Have her car detailed!)

Everybody knows that it is best to have your oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles. Unfortunately most people don’t think beyond that. If you only remember one additional service, remember the transmission flush. There is no other preventative maintenance service that provides as big of a return. You should have your transmission flushed every 30,000 miles. This $130 service will prolong your transmission’s life by about 60,000 miles. If you wait until 100,000 miles you have missed your opportunity. The damage is done, and flushing now cannot undo the damage. A replacement transmission is generally around $2,500.

Another great service is the “Air Induction Cleaning”. If your engine turns over fine but is slow to “fire up”, you probably have a dirty air induction system. This problem is exacerbated by cold winter temperatures. Over time your intake manifold builds up with a greasy grime, and your valves develop carbon deposits. These build-ups actually absorb the fine mist of gasoline sprayed from your fuel injectors when first cranking the engine. They also increase resistance to air flow, which robs acceleration. An air induction cleaning costs about $120, and is recommended every 20,000 miles.

The last thing we want to mention this month is the timing belt. Most foreign cars, most 4 cylinder engines, and most overhead cam engines have a timing belt. The recommended replacement interval varies considerably between models, but is generally between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. If the timing belt breaks, major engine damage usually results – the $2,500 kind of damage. Consult your owner’s manual, or call your favorite full service auto repair shop and ask. When you ask, they are probably going to recommend that the water pump be replaced at the same time. This is good advice. It will add about $150 to the current bill, but will prevent an additional $500 bill within the next year.

We wish all of you God’s blessings this Christmas season. Please take time out of your hectic schedule to give thanks for the miraculous gift we were offered.

Brian Klaubert and Brian Warbington are with Christian Brothers Automotive – Hamilton Mill, in Dacula.