The average price of a new car just hit $40,000. So the question is: it cheaper to buy a new $40,000 car or properly maintain the one you have and keep it for more years? With rising gas prices and more to come, taking on another high car payment may not be for you.

If you have a vehicle you like and maintain it properly, why not keep it? Do you want another high car payment?

Here are some tips on properly maintaining your vehicle:

1. Switch to full synthetic oil. This will save you big bucks on engine repairs in the long run.
2. Rotate your tires at every oil change. Your set of tires will last longer and it will make it easier to spot uneven wear caused by worn front end parts.
3. Perform a fuel injection cleaning every 25,000-30,000 miles. This is one of the causes of hard starting or no starting. Don't get stuck with a car that won't start. This will also make your injectors last longer.
4. Fix oil leaks. Leaking oil shows that gaskets and seals need changing. You don't want to drive around with less than a full crankcase. Proper oil levels not only lubricate, they have a cooling function.
5. Have your front end aligned when buying new tires. This will spot worn front end parts which will wear out your tires prematurely.
6. Change your air filter when it is dirty. We check your air filter at each oil change.
7. Have your brakes checked for wear every 30,000 miles. We do this free of charge It is much cheaper to change brake pads than to have to change pads and rotors. If your brakes make noises, it is too late.
8. Change your brake fluid every 30,000 miles. This will prevent brake fluid leaks. We check your fluid free of charge at every oil change.
9. Flush your cooling system every 2 years. Coolant not only keeps your system from overheating, it also lubricates the water pump. Doing this prevents premature water pump replacement. Also coolant additives wear out just like oil additives do.

At Express Oil we can properly maintain your vehicle and do repairs if necessary and only when necessary. We are your one stop shop. Regular servicing has been proven to avoid repairs and expensive breakdowns. Our technicians check your vehicle and make recommendations for periodic servicing. Please listen to them. It is all in our data base which indicates when servicing is required for any vehicle. Our website has numerous articles on the "whys" of various services. Go to www.exressoilorlando.com.