Car Tire Maintenance
For most regular folks who own an automobile, regular scheduled maintenance of their vehicle’s tires doesn’t usually come to mind. However, keeping an eye on your tires is extremely important, not just for safety but also to save money. With regular monitoring and maintenance of your tires, you can increase their lifespan and purchase fewer tires over the life of your car.
In regard to automobile part longevity, your tires are one of the major components you want to monitor on a regular basis, and this is fairly easy to do once you know how. Unlike some other aspects of your vehicle that you may need to consult Budget Brakes on, you don’t have to search very far to find the pertinent information about your car’s tires. In fact, the government now mandates such information to be printed right on the tire itself, on their sides.
First and foremost, you’ll want to keep your tires inflated at the recommended pressure. It has been estimated that keeping your tires at their optimal inflation level can result in a 3.3 percent increase in fuel efficiency. Tire gauges are fairly inexpensive and can be found at Budget Brakes at reasonable prices. To find the optimal pressure, simply check the sides of the tires or check the owner’s manual. Remember to only measure tire pressure at times the tire is “cold,” meaning when you haven’t driven on them for a few hours.
Another aspect of maintenance for your tires that is easily forgotten is to routinely rotate your tires about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Rotating your tires allows the tread to wear evenly so that you can increase its efficiency as well as its lifespan. Rotating tires are simple enough but if you want to make sure it is done correctly, the people at Budget Brakes will happily assist you.
Doing simple maintenance checks like these will ensure that you get the most out of your vehicle, the least out of your wallet, and, most importantly, ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Budget Brakes: Car Engine Maintenance

According to experts at Budget Brakes, the most important factor in keeping your car in great running shape and avoiding costly repairs is following a good maintenance schedule. This can make the difference between having your engine run for hundreds of thousands of miles without any issues and having it break down after a relatively low number of miles.
If you are unsure of what maintenance schedule you must follow, experts at Budget Brakes strongly advise you to read your vehicle owner’s manual. This will inform you on the things that need to be serviced on a regular basis. Generally you need to keep all your fluids (e.g. oil, coolant, transmission fluid) clean and topped up.
As most of us already know, regular oil changes are the number one way of making sure your engine will be in good condition for a very long time. You also need to service or replace brakes, timing belt, spark plugs, etc. in a timely manner and check your tire pressure regularly.
Avoiding overheating the engine is also an extremely important way of making sure your engine stays in great shape. Preventing corrosion by not leaving the car in high humidity environments for long periods of time is also strongly recommended by Budget Brakes.
Another important suggestion is making sure to warm up the engine regularly by taking sufficiently long trips at intervals. Budget Brakes specialists strongly recommend dealing with small problems early, as they arise, in order to prevent them from getting worse, which may lead to serious engine issues and costly repairs in the future.

Budget Brakes: Car Brake Maintenance

Budget Brakes is concerned for the safety of your driving, helping you stay informed on properly maintaining and scheduling your brake maintenance. Budget Brakes reminds you that the age of your car and driving habits can play a major role in its performance. Temperature can affect how quickly our brake pads last, with cold weather causing them to wear out quickly.
Driving habits matter too. Some people tend to have a lead foot, and, depending on how hard and often a driver slams on the brakes, your brakes may wear out quickly or last a year or more.
Monitoring your brake fluid is a very important part of having your brakes last longer. It is wise to check your brake fluid once a month, noticing when the fluid is becoming darker in color. Dark brake fluids should be flushed and replaced. Budget Brakes would recommend that, on average, you should have your brakes, fluids, rotators, and calipers checked professionally.
Budget Brakes knows that feeling safe is of the utmost important while driving with friends or family. Keeping up with your brake maintenance schedule can help protect you and save you unwanted costs.

Budget Brakes: Car Transmission Maintenance

In today’s world of futuristic, well everything, transportation has evolved to a complicated, yet convenient, solution to travel. From cars, to planes, to motorcycles, automobiles have become a daily part of our lives. Cars are something that almost everyone uses (my condolences to the Amish), and while everyone may have a car, not everyone knows how to take care of one. No matter where you bought your car, or how long ago, learning to maintain your vehicle is important. And at Budget Brakes, you can keep your expensive and useful investment running well with the utmost high quality of care.
Budget Brakes cares about your car as much as you do, so show your investment that it deserves to be taken care of while saving yourself some money on the way. Most transmission failures result because of lack of care, not enough fluids, etc. People who haul heavy things and people who live in what Budget Brakes might refer to as “severe weather conditions” should change their fluids more often than those who don’t.
Replacing or repairing a transmission can be one of the costliest repairs on your car, so if you would like to keep that cash in your pocket and keep your car happy, just remember to replace your fluids regularly! To check when you should replace your transmission fluid, check with your vehicle manufacturer.

Budget Brakes Safe Driving: Driving in Heavy Rain

Budget Brakes has put together some tips to help you drive safely in heavy rain. Heavy rain can both reduce your visibility and make your car harder to control.
• Slowing down enhances your visibility, makes it easier to brake, and encourages other motorists around you to slow down.
• Use your headlights so that other drivers can see you.
• Maintain at least three seconds of space between you and the car ahead of you by tracking when they pass a point on the road and counting to three before passing it yourself.
• Replace old wiper blades at least once a year.
• Never drive through water if you can’t see the ground through it. You can easily flood your engine, ruin your electrical system, or be swept off the road by driving through water that is deeper than the bottom of your car’s frame.
• Get your brakes checked at least once a year at Budget Brakes.
Driving in wet weather requires a gentle application of accelerator, brakes, clutch, and steering. Budget Brakes hopes these driving tips will keep you and your family safe during inclement weather.

Budget Brakes Safe Driving: Driving in the Snow

Driving in the snow is common for customers in the northern part of the United States, but many people from the South or coasts have never driven in snow. Driving in snow requires more stable acceleration and turning, as your car is prone to sliding across the road due to reduced friction. Budget Brakes has put together a list of tips that will help you drive safely in the snow.
• Driving after the snow plows have cleared the streets is far safer than driving before the plows and rock salt.
• Brake and accelerate gently to avoid skidding and sliding.
• Do not use the accelerator or brake while you are turning.
Correcting from skidding wheels or hydroplaning is instinctual. If possible, practice winter driving in a snowy open parking lot to learn how your car handles. It’s a lot of fun to practice sliding and correcting from slides and it can keep you safe if you ever encounter an icy patch on the road.

Budget Brakes Safe Driving: Driving During Dust Storms

Parts of the world, including the Southwest United States, frequently experience long droughts which create the perfect conditions for dust storms. Dust storms can significantly reduce visibility and create a driving hazard. Budget Brakes has prepared several tips for driving during dust storms to help keep you and your family safe.
• Just park your car. Dust storms usually only last a couple of minutes, so you can afford to wait it out. The denser the dust storm, the more important it is that you pull as far off the road as possible.
• Turn OFF your lights and hazard lights while you are pulled over. Cars approaching from the rear might expect you to be traveling on the road and veer off the road and into your rear end.
• If you can’t pull off the road to park, occasionally use your horn to announce your presence to other cars around you. Use the painted lines on the right or center of the road to help guide you at a suitable speed until you can find a place to park.
Budget Brakes hopes your family stays safe while traveling in areas where dust storms are prone to strike.