The answer is that it depends on the type of oil you use in your car and also how you tend to drive your car. Usually, it is recommended that you get an oil change approximately every three thousand miles. Though if your car is newer and has a newer engine and more improved brand of oil you can get an oil change approximately every five thousand miles.

When thinking about how often you should change your car’s oil, it is a good idea to check the manufacturing recommendations in your owner’s manual. If you bought an older car and don’t own a manual for it, you can order a manual from the manufacturer or go online to look up the recommendations.

When it is time for an oil change you can either do it yourself, if you know how to, or bring your car to a mechanic and they will do it for you. The advantage to bringing your car to the mechanic is that during your oil change they can do a diagnostic check on the car and if they find any problems they will tell you right away and also fix the problem more quickly. It is better to be aware of and to fix problems in advance before something unexpectedly happens to your car. You should also consider getting an auto warranty from an aftermarket auto warranty company that sells new car warranties and used car warranties, depending on what warranty is best suited for you. This could help save you money on costly repairs in the future.

Taking good care of your car can help keep your car in good shape and help keep it away from the mechanic. New car warranties and used car warranties are a good idea to help keep the cost of owning a vehicle down. Keep these simple maintenance tips in mind to help keep your car in tip-top shape:

The battery in your car is a good place to start. Most of the batteries in cars today don’t require much maintenance and are sealed, meaning they can last you up to three years time. If you are having difficulty starting your engine, it is time to for a battery replacement.

The next part of your car to check is your tires. Temperature change can deflate your tires, so it is important to check your tire pressure regularly and make sure that it matches the recommended level for your tires and vehicle. Also it is important to keep a spare tire in your car at all times because you never know when you’ll need it. Lastly, for tires it is important to rotate them approximately every six thousand miles to prevent uneven wear, and when they do become worn it is important to have your tires changed. Checking the alignment of your car is a good thing to do if there is uneven tire wear.

Next up on the list is checking the engine oil. Checking and changing the oil is very important in order to keep your engine running correctly. It is best to change the lubricant on your car approximately every three thousand miles or every three to six months. You should also be sure to check the oil level in your car while the engine isn’t running and the car is parked on a flat surface. If you see that oil needs to be added then either bring it to a shop to get it added, or if you know how to, then add it yourself. If you add it yourself be sure not to overfill because it could harm your car’s engine.

Also, it is extremely important to check the automatic transmission fluid. Find a reservoir marked ATF, which stands for “automatic transmission fluid,” and follow the same procedure as checking the oil level, except you must have your engine running. You should change your automatic transmission fluid about every thirty thousand miles.

Your engine coolant is another thing to keep in mind. Most engine coolant or antifreeze should be changed every thirty thousand miles, or every two to three years. To monitor the engine coolant level, turn your car off and wait for the engine to cool off. Find the coolant reservoir, which is usually a clear tank, and observe the level of the coolant next to the full and low markers.

You should also check the power steering fluid in your car. It should be replaced approximately every three years or every fifty thousand miles. If you have a power steering fluid reservoir, check the level visually. If you do not have a reservoir, check using the dipstick process. Low levels of power steering fluid could mean there is a leak, in which case your mechanic should take a closer look for you.

Checking your brakes and fluid is very important in basic car maintenance. Make certain that the brake fluid levels are within acceptance. Indicators of a brake problem include noise or vibration when you use the brakes. Your mechanic should look at your brakes if you notice a problem.

Your air filter should also be properly maintained. It is recommended that you change your air filter every year or every twelve to fifteen thousand miles. A clean air filter can help your engine run better, increase gas mileage, and cut down damaging emissions.

You should also have your fuel filter checked. It should be replaced each year in order to stop debris from blocking your vehicle’s fuel line.

Windshield wipers and fluid should also be properly maintained. The blades should be changed around every six to twelve months, or when the rubber is worn. Also, be sure to check and refill your car’s wiper fluid every week.

The last part of your car you should pay close attention to is your headlights and brake lights. Turn your car on and while it is parked, have a friend or family member look to see that your lights are all working. If a light is out make sure to have your mechanic replace your bulbs.

In addition, it is important to make sure you have a good auto warranty that can cover you in event that your car is in need of repair.

Motorists who try to stretch out trips to the gas station may want to think about filling up their tank more often because it might cost them to run out of gas.

Running out of gas puts motorist at risk for getting into an auto accident, and it also may cause their cars damage that could have them paying for repairs down the road.

According to Allstate Motor Club, drivers are placing more roadside assistance calls than ever because they ran out of gas 68% more in the early months this year compared to the same period last year.

It seems that people are dreading paying gas prices; therefore they are putting off filling up their tanks.  These people run the risk of getting rear-ended by another vehicle and are causing mechanical problems to their cars.  For instance, the fuel pump can become damaged giving it a shorter lifespan.  This is why it is necessary for people to purchase used car warranties.

It may be tempting to drive right on past the gas station instead of filling up, but you may end up calling for road service and doing damage to your vehicle.  People need to realize that they will be paying the same amount of money anyway, so why not fill up before ending up stranded on the side of the road.

With summer here, it is important to maintain your car.  The heat is unavoidable and it can do great damage to your vehicle.  Here are a few tips to prepare your car for summer that will help you avoid calling for road service.  In addition, used car warranties will give you peace of mind in summer heat.

First, have your hoses and belts inspected.  Many vehicles today have a serpentine belt running the accessories.  You can lose power steering immediately if it breaks.  Many other problems can also result from faulty hoses and belts.

Also, have a professional look at your air-conditioning system.  You don’t want your system breaking down in the midst of summer heat, so have it looked at now.

Tire damage can actually worsen in intense heat, so check to make sure that your tire pressure is where it should be.  Also, check for visible wear and tear since this could be an indication of poor alignment.

These simple tips can keep your car driving smoothly through the summer months and help you avoid calling for emergency roadside assistance.  Don’t neglect your vehicle and find yourself stranded in the heat.

Many people believe it is easiest to trade in your current car when buying a new one.  However, is trading the right choice for you?  There are some advantages and disadvantages to trading.

The big advantage to trading over selling is that you have very little hassle.  You don’t have to haggle with buyers and you get rid of your car quickly.  However, the fact is that you aren’t going to get as much for your car if you trade it in.

Any used vehicle has a specific retail value.  If a dealership is going to sell that vehicle, they will have certain expenses, such as fixing dents and scrapes, cleaning it, and just overhead costs of running their business.  Therefore, the dealership has to sell it for a little more than a private owner would.

Since dealers need to make a good profit on used vehicles, they purchase them for less than the retail value.  When the dealership takes a trade in vehicle, they are essentially purchasing it from the new car customer, and at a price below the retail value.  Essentially, this is called the trade in value.

Although trading in your car is easier than going through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately, you are going to get less money for your vehicle.  If you sell your vehicle on your own, you can put the extra money you get towards important things such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs.  And with used vehicles, used car warranties are a smart choice.

For motorists who like to take things into their own hands, the Internet is the place to look for valuable information.  Consumers are seeking research online to aid them in buying a new automobile, finding out about car service, and finding a good auto warranty.

A new study shows that 74 percent of people who do research on service and parts say they are utilizing the Internet more now than two years ago.  In addition, 90 percent of motorists researching service information about automobiles say that the Internet influenced their purchase.

Customers who are well informed can do a good job of describing issues for potential repair when they visit their mechanic for maintenance.  However, it can be a problem when car owners try to do significant repairs by themselves because many times they make misdiagnoses on their car.  This can end up harming their car more.

For example, if a motorist replaces the alternator because the car is having trouble starting, when in fact the battery should have been changed, it could cost hundreds of dollars to rectify the situation.

It is good for consumers to use the Web to research about cars because it can aid their mechanic.  However, motorists who think they can fix anything could end up stranded somewhere.  At any rate, it is always good to have used car warranties to protect your wallet.

Drivers who are fuel-conscious now have a new innovative way to calculate their vehicle’s mileage and compare their mileage to other drivers’.  Also, motorists will be able to devise ways that they can improve their own fuel-economy.

A new website, called fuelly.com, allows you to put your car in their system by entering details about your car.  For example, by imputing your vehicle’s year, and make and model, they will track your gas mileage, gas expenditures, how your car compares to estimates by the EPA, and also how much you could save by using different ways to improve your gas mileage.

One helpful feature is that you are able to see how your vehicle compares to vehicles that identical.  Then, if your gas mileage is significantly worse it will tell you some things.  For example, maybe you have poor driving habits when it comes to burning gas, or maybe your tires aren’t inflated like they should be, or it’s time to replace your air filter.  Whatever it may be, fuelly.com could be a valuable warning system.  In addition, if you own a mobile device, you can update the website remotely.

We all dread paying the high fuel costs, even to the point where we run out of gas and have to call for roadside assistance.  However, by using fuelly.com, you can now improve your fuel-efficiency by being aware of your poor driving habits.  Always purchase used car warranties to cut down on costs, as well.

When a teenager turns 16 years old, they are excited to get their drivers license.  Unfortunately, teens have more driving accidents than any other age group.  For the majority of teen drivers, the question isn’t whether they are going to have an accident, but when they are going to have an accident.

Inexperience is the main reason that teenagers are vulnerable to traffic accidents.  Although 16 to 19 year olds only make up 5.3 percent of the driving population in our nation, they’re involved in 13.3 percent of all of the traffic accidents and 11 percent of crashes that are fatal.

A new program aimed to protect teenagers is “graduated licensing”.  Although the age of licensing is the same, full privileges come gradually.

The program begins with a learner’s permit.  Next, is the intermediate stage, in which teens can drive during the daytime alone, and in the evening they can drive between 9 p.m-6 a.m. with a licensed driver.  Then, the advanced stage comes. This is when teens can drive with no restrictions.

The graduated licensing program is a good step to ensure that our teens remain safe.  However, teens need to protect themselves by practicing safe driving habits and purchasing used car warranties.

Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, partly responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.

With about half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market.  Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors.  In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.

GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers.  This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.

Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid distractions by GPSs.  In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.

The Prius has become one of the hottest vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing used car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.