Back-to-School Car Care Tips

Selecting and maintaining back-to-school vehicles is a somewhat difficult undertaking, fraught with the usual battle of wills and wallets. Be it a high-school hauler or a college cruiser, this choice is one to be made wisely. Given the choices themselves, every kid in the world would go off to school in a brand new convertible that could also do his or her homework to boot. Parents, on the other hand, would most likely elect to send Junior off to school in Grandpa's old Ford Pinto with Dad saying something like, "This old crate will run forever," as he hands over the keys and a 2X4 with a notch in it required to prop up the deck lid.

New, Old Car
The economic reality of back-to-school expenses along with available and thrifty transportation is a rite of passage for our younger drivers. Kids more often than not go back to school with a hand-me-down vehicle of some sort. While this is a practical choice for many families, taking the time out to educate yourselves and your kids about the aspects of keeping an older vehicle safe and on the road with a minimum of "send-money-now" phone calls from the dorm is practical advice indeed.

Plenty of Fluids
By far the greatest areas of neglect in the world of automobile maintenance are the fluids that keep the engine, transmission, and the multitude of other moving parts in an automobile from gnashing themselves into useless scrap metal. The good news is that checking and maintaining fluids is easy, and can make the difference between a vehicle that runs well for a long time, and one that will precipitate the dreaded request for car repair cash.

Knowledge is Power
Better news is that safety and maintenance go hand in hand. Teaching the kids and yourselves to read their car or truck's condition along with some books is a perfect example of knowledge equaling power. Just as important as keeping an eye on the fluids is putting your hands on the tires. Checking tire pressure, and visually inspecting the tires themselves can tell you of mechanical conditions such as worn shocks or suspension misalignment. Regular brake inspections are also a capitol idea, and can help put a stop to overly expensive repairs before they start. Take some time to go back to the school of car care tips with your kids. You may both learn something this fall.