Do you have any genuine tricks for keeping/maintaining a car that are frugal?

Could be anything from getting a deal on a car wash, or keeping the interior nice, or keeping the engine or tires or anything really in good order.

Also, are there any things you used to be able to do frugally with your car which has changed to be more expensive–maybe due to auto manufacturers changing how cars are designed?

(I’m asking this so if something used to be frugal but isn’t now, people speak up about it.)

  • MajorHavoc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    151·
    1 year ago

    It used to be economical to do my own brake pad changes, but since about 2015 getting the lines bled correctly after (on an American car) requires a special computer that isn’t available to the public.

    Let’s all support better “right to repair” laws.

    Edit: Don’t let my comment keep you from doing your own brake pads. As pointed out - a brake line bleed isn’t typically needed when just doing brake pads.

      • MajorHavoc@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        True… If nothing else is wrong.

        I have driven some truly shitty old cars, so I tend to forget that, since I’ve needed a brake line bleed as often as not.