Keeping up with routine maintenance items is critical in order to prolong the life of your vehicle. For example, changing your oil every 5,000 miles keeps your engine working efficiently and prevents friction and excess heat from building. Replacing the air filter ensures that a sufficient amount of air is making it into your engine while dirt and debris are caught. In fact, when you notice someone driving a car with 200,000 miles on the odometer, the reason behind their jalopy's longevity is good maintenance habits.
That said, repair shops - both independent and those maintained by dealerships - offer a host of maintenance services that are unnecessary. They sound attractive. They might even be relatively inexpensive. But, your car doesn't need them.
Below, I'll give you a short list of maintenance items that are promoted as "must haves," but are little more than a way for your mechanic to line his pockets.
Annual Fuel Injector Cleanings
Your car's fuel injectors can become clogged over time. This usually occurs when oilfins in the gasoline accumulate within the nozzles. Oilfins are waxy, so an accumulation leads to a clogged injector. When this happens (and it's often due to cheap gasoline), the clogged injectors may need to be cleaned or replaced, depending on the severity of the blockage.
The problem is, clogging rarely happens each year. Even if you're using cheap gasolines that lack the detergents that normally prevent deposits, it takes a few years for a blockage to develop. At $150 and up, say no to annual cleanings.
"Special" Protective Oil Additives
Priced low (usually under $10), these additives are a major profit source for repair shops and auto supply stores. They're designed to offer an extra level of protection for your engine - and that's exactly what they do. They help prevent friction and heat from causing major damage to your engine.
While potentially helpful, they're entirely unnecessary if you're changing the oil every 5,000 miles. As long as you keep the oil in good condition, these special additives are an unwarranted expense.
Engine Flush
An engine flush sounds helpful. Debris and sludge accumulate throughout the assembly and a flush promises to clean them out. However, there are a couple of problems that mechanics don't mention. First, if you're changing your oil, there is a much lower likelihood that debris will collect in your engine. Second, if your engine is older and debris has already accumulated due to neglect, a flush might cause the debris to break loose. If that happens, it may penetrate more deeply and cause bigger problems.
This service item can cost up to $200. Keep the money and make sure you change your oil based on the recommended intervals in your owner's manual.
Transmission Flush
The same advice goes for transmission flushes. To be sure, dirt and debris can collect within the assembly. But, as with flushing the engine, flushing your transmission can cause this material to break loose and circulate more deeply. If you're periodically replacing your transmission fluid, a flush is usually unnecessary.
Devices And Tools To Improve Fuel Efficiency
When gas prices surge, a number of "solutions" are promoted that promise to boost your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Do they work? Probably not. The Environmental Protection Agency has tested dozens of these products; none have fulfilled their promises. Given that these "gas saving" tools can cost between $20 and $300, you'll save plenty of money by ignoring the advertisements.
Auto maintenance items, such as changing your oil, replenishing your transmission fluid, and replacing filters, is important. Doing these things will prolong the life of your vehicle and improve its performance. By contrast, the service items described above sound helpful, but are unnecessary. Save your money and focus on the maintenance procedures you already know to be helpful.
That said, repair shops - both independent and those maintained by dealerships - offer a host of maintenance services that are unnecessary. They sound attractive. They might even be relatively inexpensive. But, your car doesn't need them.
Below, I'll give you a short list of maintenance items that are promoted as "must haves," but are little more than a way for your mechanic to line his pockets.
Annual Fuel Injector Cleanings
Your car's fuel injectors can become clogged over time. This usually occurs when oilfins in the gasoline accumulate within the nozzles. Oilfins are waxy, so an accumulation leads to a clogged injector. When this happens (and it's often due to cheap gasoline), the clogged injectors may need to be cleaned or replaced, depending on the severity of the blockage.
The problem is, clogging rarely happens each year. Even if you're using cheap gasolines that lack the detergents that normally prevent deposits, it takes a few years for a blockage to develop. At $150 and up, say no to annual cleanings.
"Special" Protective Oil Additives
Priced low (usually under $10), these additives are a major profit source for repair shops and auto supply stores. They're designed to offer an extra level of protection for your engine - and that's exactly what they do. They help prevent friction and heat from causing major damage to your engine.
While potentially helpful, they're entirely unnecessary if you're changing the oil every 5,000 miles. As long as you keep the oil in good condition, these special additives are an unwarranted expense.
Engine Flush
An engine flush sounds helpful. Debris and sludge accumulate throughout the assembly and a flush promises to clean them out. However, there are a couple of problems that mechanics don't mention. First, if you're changing your oil, there is a much lower likelihood that debris will collect in your engine. Second, if your engine is older and debris has already accumulated due to neglect, a flush might cause the debris to break loose. If that happens, it may penetrate more deeply and cause bigger problems.
This service item can cost up to $200. Keep the money and make sure you change your oil based on the recommended intervals in your owner's manual.
Transmission Flush
The same advice goes for transmission flushes. To be sure, dirt and debris can collect within the assembly. But, as with flushing the engine, flushing your transmission can cause this material to break loose and circulate more deeply. If you're periodically replacing your transmission fluid, a flush is usually unnecessary.
Devices And Tools To Improve Fuel Efficiency
When gas prices surge, a number of "solutions" are promoted that promise to boost your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Do they work? Probably not. The Environmental Protection Agency has tested dozens of these products; none have fulfilled their promises. Given that these "gas saving" tools can cost between $20 and $300, you'll save plenty of money by ignoring the advertisements.
Auto maintenance items, such as changing your oil, replenishing your transmission fluid, and replacing filters, is important. Doing these things will prolong the life of your vehicle and improve its performance. By contrast, the service items described above sound helpful, but are unnecessary. Save your money and focus on the maintenance procedures you already know to be helpful.
