I asked a real mechanic what they would do to reduce maintenance expense costs over the life of a vehicle. Scott Cox of Danmark Tire & Auto shared the below:

“To be honest, the biggest thing that car owners can do to prevent bigger issues and save money long term is something so very easy… that no one does.

CHECK YOUR OIL!!!

Car manufacturers have lengthened the time you can go between oil changes. My wife had a jeep that the manufacturer recommended changing the oil every 10,000 miles. That’s nuts.

My GMC truck recommends 7,500. General Motors also put out a service bulletin stating that it’s acceptable for a new engine to burn 1 quart for every thousand miles of driving.

If your car burns a quart every thousand miles, you’ll be out of oil before your oil change is even due. You have to check your oil in between oil changes. 

Also, most newer cars engines have variable valve timing. The timing is set by oil pressure. If your car is low on oil, the timing will be incorrect and can cause the car to stall at stop lights. It will also make your engine light come on. When cars come in like that, we sell both timing solenoids and an oil change. The screens in the solenoids get clogged up when run low on oil. It’s a $300 bill that is 100% preventable.

 If you don’t want to keep up on the oil level, please keep my number…. We sell new engines.”

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As mentioned by Scott above, a new engine vs. regular oil changes is no contest cost-wise.

• A new engine is a rare event but if reducing the likelihood of a $7,000 or more expense costs you $500 per year in oil changes (or adding extra between changes if your engine is burning it) that’s simple.

• Add to that the life of your vehicle can be extended significantly with regular maintenance.

• Owning cars for long periods of time means more years without a car payment, likely lower insurance rates, and property taxes over time.

Redirect those savings towards your next vehicle or other wealth building goals and it doesn’t take long for the trivial financial concern of an oil change to add up in your favor.