Be nice to your car, and it will be nice to you

Source: The Province

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Hidden away in the glove box of your car or truck is a valuable book that can save your money and keep you abreast of your vehicle's maintenance needs.

That book is the owner's manual and some of the most important information it contains is the maintenance schedule.

Following those guidelines helps you avoid breakdowns and unnecessary repairs, while maintaining the value of the vehicle. When the time comes to sell the vehicle or trade it in on a new car or truck, maintenance will make a difference in the value.

Paul Hrynew, service manager at an Edmonton GM dealership, said good maintenance helps in getting that extra $500 when the vehicle is sold.

"Your biggest fear when buying something used is, 'Was it maintained?' " he said. "That can make or break the deal."

Kerry Russell, general manager of the dealership, said well-maintained cars with complete service records sell quickly on the used-car lot.

While maintenance is crucial to a vehicle's longevity, improvements in materials and vehicle design have considerably reduced service requirements.

Hrynew said if you "maintain your vehicle, it will treat you better." A vehicle that's treated well will not have to have components taken apart for repairs. That's true of all vehicles, regardless of make and model.

He points out that a technician at the dealership bought a new Chevrolet cavalier in 1994 and has maintained the car carefully since. As a result, it looks like new despite having more than 200,000 kilometres on the odometer.

In addition to reduced maintenance requirements, improved quality has made a considerable difference in the amount of repair work performed on modern vehicles.

While a variety of factors come into play including better engine design, tighter manufacturing tolerances and better lubricants, fuel injection plays a significant role in a powerplant's increased lifespan.

In the days of carburetors, Hrynew said it was common to pump the gas pedal a couple of times to help start the engine. However, that gasoline also washed the lubricant out of the cylinders, meaning that the rings were running dry and accelerating wear.

Fuel-injected vehicles start with a twist of the key without any need to pump the accelerator. Today, most vehicles have only one engine in their lifespan, where it wasn't unusual 30 to 40 years ago to have the engine replaced.