When I got my first car twenty years ago, I was clueless when it came to maintaining it and keeping it in a roadworthy condition. As a result, I had to pay for costly repairs that could have been avoided if the car had been looked after better. I learned my lesson and started reading everything I could about basic car maintenance. I started this blog to share what I've learned in the hopes it will save other new drivers making costly mistakes. I blog about a variety of topics, such as troubleshooting uneven tyre wear, the benefits of regular servicing and maintaining your car during the winter months. I hope you find my blog useful.
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Why It's Always Recommended That You Use Genuine Parts for Car Repair
Reginald Fox
Cars eventually need repair and parts eventually need replacing, and in some cases, this can be quite costly. Using off-brand parts can be tempting as these are usually much cheaper than genuine parts you get from a dealer or authorized manufacturer, but you may notice that many car mechanics recommend genuine parts instead. This isn't always just to charge you more money, as there are some very distinct advantages to using genuine parts. Note a few of the disadvantages that can come when using to off-brand car parts and why genuine name brands are often worth the extra cost.
1. Brakes
One reason that you want to invest in high-quality brakes is that they are friction parts, meaning they rub against other parts and, in turn, suffer more wear and tear and create more heat. Cheaper brake pads may not be bonded properly to their backings, so the glue eventually wears off because of this heat and friction. They may also contain more metal that makes them brittle and, in turn, they're more likely to crack and then need replacing again very soon. This brittle material may also wear out the rotors of your tires more quickly so that they too need replacing. All this wear and tear can also mean brakes that don't function as well as they should when on the road, so it is often safer to go with high quality brakes from well trusted brands like Ford parts.
2. Batteries
A cheaper battery may have a case that is less sturdy and more likely to crack. This might lead to a leak of battery fluid and corrosion. The plates inside the battery may also not be as tightly connected as they could be so that the battery fails to operate. The battery may also not fit the housing under the hood very well, so it is more likely to come loose from the connectors as the car vibrates. Don't assume that all batteries are alike but invest in a high-quality battery, especially if you live in a colder climate where its strength is important on those cold mornings.
3. Oil filters
Oil filters may all look alike to you or you may not understand the importance of their job. A poor quality oil filter will allow more dirt and sediment to seep into the oil pan and, in turn, circulate into the car's engine. This can cause excessive wear and tear on the engine and also allow the oil to get thick so that it doesn't lubricate and cool as it should. A name brand oil filter will do the best job of actually filtering sediment from the oil pan and in turn, protect your engine better.
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