Here are some common mistakes people make with their cars:

1) Not making sure their tires are inflated properly – There is no real guess work involved here, recommended tire pressure is clearly printed on the tire. One thing you do need to buy if you don’t have one, is a tire pressure gauge. It doesn’t have to be fancy, many reliable gauges cost just around five dollars, less in many cases.

Proper tire inflation can help in a number of ways. First is that a properly inflated tire can save gas, a precious commodity these days. Having tires with the right amount of pressure makes them last longer, and do their job better. Over or under inflated tires could blow out, causing an accident, or you have to replace or repair it. If you have to use a spare, don’t drive around on it like a normal tire, they aren’t designed to drive around on, just enough to get you to a repair shop.

2) Not checking fluid levels (or not checking them properly) – An automatic transmission should be checked when warm, with the car in neutral with the parking brake on. Engine oil should be checked with the car warm, but turned off. Radiator fluid levels should only be checked when the car is cold, because if you check it when the car is hot, the pressure build up in the radiator could cause serious burns.

3) Do it yourself oil changes, or skipping regularly scheduled lubrication – Changing your own oil, while is seems like a good alternative, isn’t, because you have to raise the car, drain the oil, which is messy, and then you are stuck with trying to dispose of the used oil.

Taking your vehicle to a lube shop is much better, because they check and top off everything, lubricate the chassis, and more, for one low price. If you do the math, not only is it cheaper, but it usually is finished in ten minutes, compared to the hours spent doing it on your own.

4) Not having regular brake inspections, or not changing the pads often enough – That incessant squeal every time you apply the brake is a warning that the pads have worn down to the studs, and are scraping against the drums and rotors. Taking the time to have the brakes changed, for under two hundred dollars in most cases, is a lot cheaper than having to replace the rotors and drums.

5) Not making sure the gas cap is tight – If your engine light comes on, it could be telling you that your gas cap is loose, and air is interfering with your fuel intake. By making sure your gas cap is on properly, you won’t have to take your vehicle in to get checked for something this simple.