Maintenance Archives | Cerified Auto

The Cost Of Owning A Car In 2024

The cost of owning a car has certainly risen. In 2024, the cost including maintenance, was an average of $6,684. If a new car was purchased, the total average cost was $12,297. Maintaining the vehicle averaged 10 cents per mile.

New vehicle costs are at an all-time high and of course, supply chain issues on automotive parts keep driving costs up. These are all things to consider if you are contemplating buying a new vehicle.

The most important thing you can do for any vehicle, new or used, is keep it maintained. This always adds value to a car plus, as we always point out, maintaining is less expensive than repairing.

Here is a list of maintenance items per mileage to keep your vehicle healthy:

Oil Change (every 5,000 – 7,000 miles)

Tire Rotation (every 5,000 – 8,000 miles)

Brake Pad Replacement (every 30,000 miles)

Here is a list of replacement items:

New Tires (every 6 years)

Air Filters (every 20,000 miles)

Wiper Blades (every 6 – 12 months)

Check your vehicle’s owner manual for a list of maintenance items and replacement parts to keep it going strong…and safely…for years to come. Hopefully, prices will go down in 2025, but we won’t really know that until this time in 2026.

Maintenance Myth Busters

Myth: Premium Gasoline Will Make Your Car Perform Better

Explanation: Many people believe that using premium gasoline will improve their car’s performance, fuel efficiency, and longevity, regardless of the vehicle they drive.

Reality: The truth is, most cars are designed to run perfectly on regular unleaded gasoline. Unless your vehicle’s manufacturer specifically recommends or requires the use of premium gasoline (often in high-performance or luxury vehicles with high-compression engines), you will not see any significant benefit from using it.

For vehicles that do not require premium fuel, using it does not enhance performance or fuel efficiency. In fact, you might just be wasting money, as premium gasoline is more expensive.

Premium gasoline has a higher octane rating, which means it can withstand higher compression without detonating. Cars designed for regular fuel do not need this higher octane, as their engines do not compress the air-fuel mixture to the same extent.

Conclusion: Unless your vehicle specifically requires or benefits from premium fuel (check your owner’s manual), there is no advantage to using it. Stick with the recommended gasoline type to ensure optimal performance and cost-efficiency.

Older Cars Must Be Maintained

With new cars being so expensive, people are keeping their current vehicles longer. The average vehicle costs $47,218 when purchased new so it is completely understandable that people don’t want to pay the price.

If a car is regularly maintained, they can certainly last longer. The average car age today is 13 years old. If you have decided to keep your car longer, it is very possible. All it takes is some tender, loving care! Keeping your car longer can save more money than the purchase of the vehicle itself. With proper care virtually any car can be kept running as long as the owner wants to keep it. The longer you own a car, the less it costs you to own! A vehicle depreciates early on. It starts losing value the minute you drive it off the new car dealer lot. It will lose 66% of its value in the first five years, assuming you drive an average of 12,000 miles per year.

How many miles you can drive your vehicle before fluids or parts need to be replaced depends on your driving habits. Those who drive in stop and go traffic put a bigger strain on their vehicle so that is considered “severe” driving. Your car will need to be serviced more frequently than those who zip along the highways with no need for frequent stops.

It pays to be consistent with your car’s service! Many think it is okay to delay or even skip an oil change all together. Your engine may not blow up the minute you go over the recommended mileage, but it does accelerate the engine wear and can cause premature engine damage. Driving your car on fumes instead of filling up before the warning signal comes on isn’t good for your vehicle either. Using the right fluids and the right parts are vitally important to keep your car from aging. The wrong weight oil or the wrong transmission fluid won’t help your car stay young.

Preventive maintenance is the key to keeping your car running well. Make sure you choose an automotive repair shop you can trust and that really knows what they are doing. Keep your car washed and waxed to help its appearance. The money you save over time will be substantial.

Maintaining Your Vehicle Is Essential

Maintaining your car is essential for several reasons, including safety, reliability, performance, and financial considerations. Here are some key reasons why maintaining your car is important:

Safety: Regular maintenance helps ensure that your vehicle operates safely on the road. Components such as brakes, tires, steering, and suspension need to be in good condition to provide optimal control and handling. Neglecting maintenance can lead to mechanical failures or compromised safety systems, increasing the risk of accidents.
Reliability: Proper maintenance reduces the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns and mechanical failures. Addressing potential issues early through routine inspections and services can prevent more significant problems that could leave you stranded on the side of the road.
Performance: Well-maintained vehicles typically perform better and more efficiently. Components such as the engine, transmission, and fuel system operate more smoothly when they are properly maintained, resulting in better fuel economy, acceleration, and overall performance.
Longevity: Regular maintenance helps prolong the lifespan of your vehicle. By replacing worn-out parts, changing fluids, and addressing minor issues promptly, you can prevent more extensive damage and extend the life of your car.
Resale Value: A well-maintained car retains its resale value better than one that has been neglected. Potential buyers are more likely to pay a higher price for a vehicle that has a documented history of regular maintenance and service records.
Cost Savings: While it may seem counterintuitive, maintaining your car can save you money in the long run. Preventative maintenance is generally less expensive than repairing major mechanical problems caused by neglect. Additionally, a well-maintained vehicle tends to be more fuel-efficient, reducing fuel costs over time.
Environmental Impact: Properly maintained vehicles tend to produce fewer emissions and consume less fuel, reducing their environmental impact. Regular maintenance helps ensure that your car operates efficiently and complies with emissions standards.

Overall, maintaining your car is crucial for safety, reliability, performance, and financial reasons. By investing time and resources in routine maintenance, you can keep your vehicle running smoothly, prolong its lifespan, and minimize the risk of unexpected breakdowns or costly repairs.

Let’s face it, a car is a poor investment because as soon as you drive off the lot the value decreases. We need transportation, however. In the past we were told to trade in a car every 100,000 miles. Cars today are built better and last longer. We can now drive a car at least 200,000 miles with proper service.

Remember 60 years old is the new 40 and 200,000 miles is the new 100,000 miles, and with the average payment of $735.00 a month, get the car paid off and drive.

“Always Glad to Help”
Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Keeping Your Vehicle’s Air Cooler and Fresher!

Most all vehicles have a recirculation button with the AC controls. It is the picture of a car with a U-turn arrow on it, but many of us are unsure when to use it. Well, the easy answer is to use it in the summer and turn it off in the winter. The recirculation button simply takes the air from inside the car and recirculates it in the cabin instead of pulling fresh air from outside.

On days when it is miserably hot outside, the recirculate button uses the cooler air in the cabin, which will keep the inside air cooler, instead of pulling hot air from outside and trying to cool it. Using the recirculation feature will get your car cooler and will decrease the wear and tear on your AC system.

Here is something that is good to know! If your car has been baking in the sun all day, it’s better to roll the windows down and turn the recirculate off for the first minute or so to get rid of the super-hot air inside the car before turning the recirculate on.

Also, any time you are stuck in traffic (summer or winter) be sure to use the recirculate. If you are pulling air from outside, then you are pulling in all the pollutants and carbon monoxide from all the traffic. Studies show that recirculating your AC can cut down on the pollutants entering your vehicle by 20% when stuck in traffic!

Don’t forget your cabin filter! This will also ensure smooth and quite blower operation and keep out dust and pollen! Have your cabin filter inspected every 15,000 miles.

Certified Automotive Specialists
“Always Glad to Help”
Vermont – 626-963-0814 or Route 66 – 626-852-0908
or visit our website www.CertifiedAutoCa.com
Hometown Service You Can Count On!

It’s Kind Of Like…

Your vehicle’s health systems are a lot like our own personal health. Really!

Clogged Filters – When your filters get full of debris, they can’t do their job. Like how a person with asthma must feel. Cabin air filters protect you and your passengers from contaminants such as pollen, mold spores, dust and other small and annoying particles. Oil filters extend the life of your engine, transmission and differential fluids.

Sludge – This is actually a gooey, tar like substance that deposits itself inside your car’s engine, similar to a clogged artery. Motor oil, in addition to lubrication, protects your engine from excessive heat. When engine oil fails, sludge deposits are the result. Some engines have more trouble than others due to poor design. Their passages are smaller and oil actually bakes inside the engine.

Smoke – We all know by now how bad smoking is for us. When your car has a smoking issue, it is actually sending you an SOS – “Help me!”

Black exhaust smoke means the engine is burning too much fuel. The first thing we check is the air-filter and other intake components like sensors, fuel injectors and the fuel-pressure regulator.

Blue smoke is a clear sign that the engine is burning oil. Likely the valve guide seals or piston rings are worn out, and oil is penetrating beyond the moving parts being lubricated, into the combustion chamber where it’s being burned up with fuel.

Gray smoke can mean that your car is burning oil or suffering from a bad turbocharger. With older cars, automatic transmission fluid can get sucked into the engine through the vacuum modular or could simply mean a stuck PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve.

Certified Automotive Specialists
“Always Glad to Help”
Vermont 626-963-0814 or Route 66 626-852-0908

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Something To Consider

The cost of new cars is high! Here is something to keep in mind. Keeping and maintaining your existing car could be a great investment! The average cost of service for most cars is $800 to $1200.00 per year.

Consider these facts:

Just 8% of new cars on the market right now cost less than $30,000. That’s down 38% from before the COVID pandemic began in 2020.

In 2017, the average cost of a new vehicle was around $35,000. Today, it’s nearly $50,000, according to CNBC. 10% of all vehicles sold cost more than $70,000. That is an increase of 7% from five years ago.

According to an Edmunds report, the average price for used cars are 44% higher than five years ago. Thankfully, the price has dropped 6.4% in the first quarter of 2023.

Interest rates are also hammering buyers of both new and used vehicles. The average annual percentage rate (APR) on new vehicles bought in the first quarter of 2023 jumped to 7%, compared to 4.4% a year before. This is the highest level since the first quarter of 2008.

“Consumers paid an average monthly payment of $730 for new vehicles in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $656 a year ago, according to Edmunds. For used cars, consumers paid an average monthly payment of $551, a slight increase from the $542 they paid last year,” Fox reported.

Monthly payments exceeding $1,000 has hit a new record. 65% of auto buyers who have $1,000 monthly auto payments have an average loan-term range of 67 months and 84 months, with their average APR rate between 8.5% and 9.6%.

There are better ways and worse ways to spend $1,000 per month on a vehicle.

Certified Auto Specialists: the friendlier and more helpful auto shop! Feel free to call 626-963-0814 with any questions and we will be glad to help, or visit our website at CertifiedAutoCa.com.

Hometown Service You Can Count On!

Make It A Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether an extended road trip, a rush to the airport, getting groceries or just doing some Black Friday shopping, you probably will need your car. Here are what the road-side assistance companies say to have checked out before the holiday to make sure your vehicle is safe and your Thanksgiving less stressful:

Tires – Make sure each is properly inflated. If even one has bad tread wear and needs to be replaced, it is better to do it before you breakdown!
Wiper Blades – Many accidents could have been avoided if drivers could see where they are going, and most people are not seeing as clearly as they might believe. New wiper blades can make a huge difference.
Battery – If your car’s battery is dead, so are your plans. A simple 10-minute test is all you need.

Don’t let your car be a “roadside assistance” Thanksgiving statistic this year. Let us do a quick vehicle inspection – it will give you what we all want most on any trip – peace of mind! Besides, I would be personally offended if one of my customers had to sit by the side of the road – and you do want me to have a happy Thanksgiving also, don’t you?!