tyler-bandhoo-blog

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Bad habits to avoid doing to your car

Something that is not done by many but should be done by none is revving your vehicle to warm it up.

 A poorly circulated myth, doing this will only cause great harm to your engine. An engine needs proper lubrication (warm oil) and without it, an over-worked engine can be plagued with very expensive problems and can ultimately seize up. 

Ignoring check engine lights and unusual sounds. The sound of an engine knocking is something unmistakable and leads to panic among drivers, but other sounds such as loose transmission mounts and engine mounts can go easily ignored but will lead to extensive repairs. 

To avoid these things, take your car to a mechanic as soon as engine lights come on or you hear noises. Most times it is something simple and should be fixed before that seemingly small problem becomes insanely expensive. 

Do not constantly run your engine down to empty on fuel before putting gasoline in. Running your engine on low fuel will cause the fuel pump to wear rather quickly and is far more expensive to replace than putting gas in your car sooner. 

Overuse of brakes when traveling downhill is something greatly ignored by drivers. Simply allow your car to coast, minimize your speed before heading down the hill or, if using a manual car, place your car in a lower gear to allow for engine braking. 

Brakes will wear 33% quicker if used regularly downhill. 

Photo Creds: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-brake-rotor-disc

Sources:

https://www.thefinancialword.com/9-things-you-should-never-do-to-your-car/

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/g2846/10-bad-habits-car/

https://www.warrantywise.co.uk/blog/how-often-should-you-replace-your-car-battery

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Six simple tips to keep your car running efficiently

Those that chose to be ignorant to their car’s needs end up in the hole with a poorly running car and with a lot of unnecessary money spent on up-keeping their vehicle. 

Check your tire pressure at least once per 2,000 miles driven. Tires that are inflated can improve gas mileage by 3.3% and last significantly longer. Also, have your tires rotated and aligned once per year to lessen tire wear. 

Check and clean your air filter every 5,000 miles. If driving mainly city miles, then check and clean every 2,000 - 3,500 miles. Dirty air filters can drastically decrease gas mileage. 

Follow scheduled/recommended tune-ups. A non-tuned vehicle can burn up to 33% more fuel, which can lead to a multitude of expensive problems in the future. 

Reference your owner’s manual for tips and instructions on maintaining your vehicle. Most owner’s manuals can be found as pdf documents online and are extremely reliable for the most specific information regarding your vehicle. 

For convenience to you, check and change your battery every three years. 

Sources: 

http://genxfinance.com/28-tips-to-save-money-on-car-expenses-and-save-thousands-of-dollars/

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/tips-on-how-to-maintain-your-new-car/

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Change your engine oil yourself and save money doing so (tutorial link included at bottom)

Depending on the age and class of your vehicle, the oil change can be a huge pit of money.

 For older and less cared-for vehicles, a conventional oil change will range from $25-$50, depending on how much oil is needed. For newer and especially foreign vehicles, an oil change will range from $40-$100. 

Photo Creds: https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/mistakes-changing-car-oil-4-things-must-avoid/

Savings on DIY oil changes range from $10 to $30 per oil change. Per year, oil changes are required two or three times, depending on how much you drive. Checking your oil yourself will assist in knowing when to change oil, please check yourself and do not rely on the outdated rule of changing oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.

To check engine oil, make sure the car is on and located on a flat surface.

 Look for a, typically brightly-colored, dipstick and pull the dipstick out of the engine. Wipe the dipstick clean of any oil and insert it back into the engine as far down as it can go. Check where the oil is marked on the dipstick, if it is near or below the empty hash mark then it is time for a change. 

Photo Creds: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?7526433-2014-VW-Passat-1-8L-TSi-Oil-Change

For SUV’s and pick-up trucks, a jack and jack stand are unnecessary due to the height of the vehicle. 

Tutorial: 

https://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Oil-in-Your-Car

Sources: 

jiffylubeoilchangeprice.org

https://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Oil-in-Your-Car

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Tools to purchase before embarking on maintaining your car

Before you go ahead and set out to solve all your car’s simple repair and maintenance problems, here’s a detailed list of tools that need to be purchased:

1. Car Jack and Jack Stands - $35-$100+

A car jack and jack stands will assist in changing oil and replacing brake pads and rotors. 

https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-640912-3-Ton-Bottle-Stand/dp/B003ULZGFU/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1523065410&sr=1-4&keywords=car+jack

2. Socket Set - $30-$100

Socket sets are the holy grail of car mechanic’s tools. They serve to remove, replace and re-screw in all nuts and bolts. 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=socket+set&rh=n%3A228013%2Ck%3Asocket+set

3. Torque Wrench - $20 - $70

Torque wrenches are essential for properly tightening nuts. Over-torquing can lead to stripping a nut. A stripped nut will then be extremely difficult to remove later on. 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_asi_1?rh=i%3Atools%2Ck%3Atorque+wrench&keywords=torque+wrench&ie=UTF8&qid=1523065335

4. Impact Wrench - $25 - $100

Impact wrenches take the stress out of removing lug nuts. For a cheaper alternative turn towards breaker bars to get the job done. 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=impact+wrench&rh=n%3A228013%2Ck%3Aimpact+wrench

5. Oil Drip Pan - $10

Oil drip pans assure that your engine oil doesn’t stain your garage or driveway.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/flotool-less-mess-oil-drain-pan-05080mi/10188762-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=10188762-P&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtZzWBRD2ARIsAIPenY1eYhIOlFGGC3Y7UEp7pAlMbP0D3nJiugDP4xcR11QBqen6GXdv75kaAn0kEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sources:

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/g2657/tools-to-get-you-started-working-on-your-own-car/

https://www.autozone.com/ratchets-sockets-and-wrenches/socket-set?CJPID=5897557&afsrc=1&cmpid=cj

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Why car maintenance?

I chose to base my blog around car maintenance tips in order to help my fellow college students and others that are looking to save money and perhaps learn more about their cars. 

I started working on my car relatively recently, about three years ago. My first project was replacing my brake pads and rotors, it went far messier than predicted and I had to take my car into the shop to finish the replacements. Even in doing so, I saved $100 and learned how to do it properly. 

In doing your own car maintenance you must learn to swallow your pride and not be afraid to fail nor put your ego aside and get help. 

By learning to do my own oil changes, replace air filters, brake pads and rotors and remove window tints I have saved approximately $270 over the past three years.

Many people will spend far more than they need to on car maintenance. That is because there is a perception that doing oil changes and replacing things such as brake pads and air filters is difficult and should only be left to the trained mechanics. At a closer look, most of these tasks take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, if done properly.

Car maintenance is pivotal to maintaining the value of your car, something that some people take more serious than others. 

There are some people out there that take the extra time out of their lives to ensure that their car is meticulously detailed and tuned-up every several thousand miles. Then there are those forgetful people who don’t get oil changes for 20,000 miles. Where you want to operate is in that grey area between these two extremes.

Photo Creds: http://heroautogroup.com/blog/10-basic-car-maintenance-tips-keep-go/

Sources:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/09/23/how-to-change-your-cars-air-filter/

axleadvisor.com/brake-pads-rotors-cost/

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James Lacarte, 27, is a representative of Wild Florida Honey. The company is based out of Orlando, Florida, with farms in Lake Mary and Winter Springs. Wild Florida Honey began coming to the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market about two years ago. They offer over 20 different types of honey, with each one specializing in some sort of category, such as the Lake Mary Wildflower Honey, which is made on the Lake Mary farm so that the pollen in the local area can be combated. This honey is perfect once a day to help reduce the effects of allergies. 

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Amy Morris, 41, is the wife of Jonathan Morris, father of the farm, and absolutely adores her time on and off the farm. Between raising animals and raising their four kids, she is constantly running around with a smile on her face. Luke Morris, seen on the left, has no idea how his mom maintains her energy levels and her friendliness with every single customer that comes to the Farmer’s Market. For her it isn’t only about selling what they grow, it’s about bringing the community together even passed this. The Morris Family Farms also offer events, such as “A Night on the Farm” for families to come to the Lake Mary farm and enjoy a table dinner with other local families with only farm-grown ingredients. Half of the money spent goes to Lake Mary Elementary School. 

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Over the last 5 years, the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market has opened up to other local vendors, outside of meat and produce. For example, local honey farms, bracelet companies and cosmetic companies come to the Farmer’s Market regularly. These non-food vendors usually keep the attention of a multitude of kids that accompany their parents to the Farmer’s Market. 

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Jonathan Morris, 47, is the father in charge of Morris Family Farms located in Lake Mary and Lake Eola, Florida. All meat sold at the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market is courtesy of the Morris Family Farm. They also sell locally grown and freshly harvested vegetables, eggs, amish butter, old fashion bacon, smoked hams and raw olives at the Lake Mary Farmer’s Market as well as at several other Farmer’s Markets in Central Florida. The Morris Family is the only farm that has been constantly coming to the Farmer’s Market since it first opened in 2008.

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The Lake Mary Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as long as the temperature is above 59 degrees and it is not the winter months During the “Springtime in Florida”, the Farmer’s Market reaches its peak popularity with most fruit being in season and most customers able to enjoy the morning weather. The Farmer’s Market was founded in 2008 in combination with 2 farms at first and now expanding to about 5 farms that travel into the heart of the city to offer their produce and meat to residents. Downtown Lake Mary has much more to offer but the plaza is situated surrounding the main attraction, the Farmer’s Market. All photographs were taken on March 10th, 2018.