Skimping on car repairs could be costly

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - In these tough economic times, many people are scaling back on expenses where they can. But when it comes to your car, spending a little extra today could avoid a major headache tomorrow.

A new Triple-A survey shows a growing number of Americans can't afford new cars, so they're struggling to keep old cars on the road. One in four drivers say they've neglected repairs over the past year because of these tough economic times.

Dorothy Lafratta is one of them. She tries to hold off on regular maintenance like changing tires until she can shop around to save money. "When they tell me it's time, I put it off and put it off until it's almost time for an inspection and I finally do something about it, but I do look around for a good price, I don't just jump at the first price I hear."

While there are some repairs that can wait, the one thing experts say you should never skip out on is your regular oil change. Your car's engine is basically its heart. To keep it pumping, you've got to keep its oil fresh. If not, "There's not enough oil and the oil's not at the right viscosity to pump around the engine and lubricate the motor, whereas you have metal to metal contact, where parts of the motor are actually wearing down way faster than they are supposed to," said Josh Clifton, Manager of Jiffy Lube in West Springfield.

An engine repair can easily exceed 5,000 dollars. Considering one in four Americans couldn't even afford a 2,000 dollar repair right now, it just makes dollar and sense to keep your car maintenance budget in check.