Some Car Expenses Are A Total Waste Of Money

DENVER (CBS4) - If you've seen a mechanic lately you know it's getting more expensive to fix your car. One of the reasons is people are keeping their cars longer. The average car on the road today is about 11 years old.

One industry group says car repair costs jumped 10 percent last year. It's the biggest increase in six years.

There are some repairs that must get done -- obviously things like a bad tire or a busted radiator, but there are some things you don't need to repair.

"Really high performance tires, they don't last, they're really low mileage," mechanic Mike Griswold said.

A recent survey found some car expenses are a total waste of money. They include getting tune-ups for your engine or air conditioning unnecessarily -- buying fuel additives don't work and using premium fuel.

However, failing to change your dirty air filter and ignoring a "check engine" light will eventually cost you money. Mechanics say you should check your coolant every 50,000 miles, and check your brake pads every 25,000 to 30,000.

Ask questions of your dealer or mechanic and keep maintenance records.