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A machine to check emissions on a car.

Passing Car Smog Check (California)Last year, one of our cars did not pass smog the first time around. We had to pay the regular smog fees, then a retest fee when the car passed the second time around. It would have passed if we knew the basic knowledge so this year, we made sure our car will passed before going.

 

A collection of used motor oil and filters.

Proper Disposal of Motor OilThere are many local auto shops and recycling centers that will accept your used motor oil and oil filters so they can be properly recycled - refined, reconditioned or reprocessed. It is completely free to you. Do not toss into the trash can or recycle can at your home.

 

Recharge Your Car's Air Conditioning (Freon)

Recharge Your Car's Air Conditioning (Freon)Summer's here and having cold blowing air conditioning is a must have! It isn't the greatest time to refill air conditioning at the auto shops or dealership now because they'll charge a leg and an arm for a 15 minute simple recharge of freon.

 

Tennis Ball for Pulling Into the Garage

Ping Pong Ball for Pulling Into the GarageTake a ping ping ball and pierce a hole in it on each side. Thread a string through it and tie in your garage against the car windshield to the exact place where you need to pull in the garage for a perfect fit.

 

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Be Involved In Your Car's MaintenanceOne, read the vehicle's manual, specifically the maintenance section. I made a spreadsheet for mine, which reinforced what the "normal" maintenance intervals were for what; in months and miles, as it's "whatever comes first."

 

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Save Gas By Keeping Engine ServicedKeeping the engine serviced on time will save you gas. Don't forget the transmission service every 20,000 miles, the rear axle every 20,000 miles, and rotate the tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles for long life.

 

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Check Tire Pressure in FallNow is the time to check your tire pressure. With cold nights arriving, the air in your tires loses volume. The rule of thumb is that for every 10 degrees lower, the pressure in your tire loses 1 or 2 psi.

 

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Making Windshield Wipers Last LongerAdd longer life to car wiper blades. Winter time weather, ice and snow, cause a lot of damage to wiper blades as they tend to freeze to the windshield while parked outside in driveways and parking lots.

 

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Check Date on "New" TiresWhen we go to a store to buy tires, we think we are buying new ones, right? We may not be. As it turns out the date the tire is manufactured is on the inside part of the tire.

 

Adding oil to a car engine.

Saving Money on Oil ChangesGetting regular oil changes are important to maintaining your automobile's engine. Here is advice as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Do you have any tips for saving money on oil changes? Feel free to post them below.

 

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Use Heat To Remove Lug NutsHeat the lug nuts with a butane cigarette lighter. The heat causes the nut, but less so the bolt, to expand making it easier to loosen. And, of course, loosen nuts a bit before jacking car.

 

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Use Anti-Seize Lubricant on Lug NutsWhen changing a tire, put a small amount of Anti-seize lubricant on each wheel stud. The next time you have to change the tire, it will be much less difficult to loosen the lug nuts. Anti-seize lubricant is available at auto part stores.

 

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Avoid Oil Change Scams: Verify The Work Was Done Consumers would bring their vehicles in for an oil change. The vehicle would be taken out back and "parked" for 2-3 hours. The customer would be charged for an oil change, new oil filter, labor, plus whatever else they thought they could get away with, never doing the work the consumer was wanting done.

 

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Consult With The Tire SalesmanThis is a tip if you have a job that requires using your own vehicle on the job or do a lot of driving. When shopping for tires for your vehicle, tell the salesman what kind of driving that you do and that you don't want to have to come in 6 months to buy more tires.

 

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Buy High Mileage TiresHigh mileage tires are made of a harder rubber and will be a bit noisier, but will last longer than the average tire.

 

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Use the Proper Tire PressureAsk the salesman what air pressure for the maximum mileage out of your tires. We ran both our vehicles tires at 35 psi, but some vary.

 

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Auto Battery CareTo improve your automobile battery post and cable life, make a mixture of baking soda and water. Pour this mixture over your battery cables if they have a build up.

 

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Cleaning Windshield WipersCleaning Windshield Wipers. When your windshield wipers seem to not be working well, try cleaning them with simple soap and water. Dirt, leaves, and pine needles get stuck there.

 

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Stubborn Lug NutsCarry a cross shaft lug wrench in your car to use when you get a flat. It gives you greater leverage than the single shaft wrenches that come with most new cars. You can also carry a metal pipe to fit over one of the shafts for even better leverage.

 

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Coca Cola for Battery TerminalsCoca Cola is great on corroded battery terminals in your car. The caustic acid eats the corrosion quite well. And if your windshield is oily from driving in rainy weather? Coke works great!

 

Stack of tires with one leaning up against it.

Saving Money on TiresIf you are a commuter and would like to save money on tires, make sure you buy tires with a mileage warranty and follow the warranty rules.

 

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Rotating Tires TipWhen buying new tires or having the ones that are currently on your car rotated, ask to have the rims installed by hand, instead of with an impact wrench. With an impact wrench, sometimes they'll cross thread them.

 

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Extending the Life of Windshield Wiper BladesBefore replacing worn windshield wiper blades, try roughing up the edges of the blades with sandpaper or even an emery board. You can probably get a few more weeks of use out of them!

 

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Gas and Oil AdditivesTo get better fuel mileage on your vehicle, use a gas additive.

 

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Check Your Wiper BladesCheck your wiper blades on your vehicle periodically. If you don't watch, they'll separate and the next time you turn them on, they'll scratch your windshield.

 

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Rotating Your TiresHave your tires rotated every 5,000 miles. When you do, also have them check the air pressure in each of them. Some of the time, spare tires are usually found low or already flat.

 

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