Car parts - is prevention vs cure - which is better (Preventative vs Corrective Maintenance for Cars)
When a car reaches a certain age, owners inevitably come across more and more problems, with many waiting until the dreaded M.O.T until facing up to their mechanical woes. There’s always been a debate around the pros and cons of replacing parts before they have a chance to break, and in this guide we look at the arguments around the prevention vs cure debate.
Investment Vs taking your chances
Preventing issues with your car generally involves replacing parts before they have a chance to break; whilst a mechanic can advise you as to when they think a part may break, they won’t be able to tell you with total surety. This means that you may be replacing parts and having work undertaken too soon.
Corrective maintenance… is it a false economy?
Whilst taking corrective measures can be a much lower initial price than having a part (or parts, as the case may be) replaced, you need to consider how long it will hold up for. You may additionally find that your correction ‘goes’ at the worst time possible, and breaking down may cause even more damage to your engine. However, for many, corrective measures are the only way to, as they may find the price is far lower than preventive measures.
The importance of car maintenance
At Cpacarparts.co.uk we understand that the key to preventing mechanical problems for as long as possible is to ensure that you undertake maintenance that will lengthen the life of your car. Try following these tips to keep your car in tip top order.
- Regularly change your oil; aim for every three months,
- Check your wheels on a weekly basis, and use a proper measuring device rather than a coin; as well as this you should ensure that they are properly inflated, use a supermarket’s automated tyre pump to check the pressure before you fill them up,
- Always check your water levels, particularly in the summer,
- Try not to scrimp on petrol: buy premium and don’t let your car run low too often,
- Keep your engine coolant topped up; not ensuring that this is at a correct level can be a disaster for your car; over heating can cause catastrophic engine failure,
- Regularly clean your windscreen wipers and replace them when needed. The windscreens are an often overlooked item during car maintained; however having a windscreen wiper fly off when you’re going at 60, or not being able to see in torrential conditions can be nothing short of fatal.
- Keep your car clean – particularly you’re windscreen. This becomes ever more important if you live in a particularly dusty place, or by the sea.
So it’s decided… whilst preventative measures are far more economical in the long run, sometimes corrective maintenance has to used as somewhat of a make do. Be sure to follow our regular car maintenance tips if you want to keep your car in as good a condition as possible, for as log as possible.