Everyone who has a vehicle knows that they have to get the oil changed, but do you really know how often an oil change is required? A lot of the time people are under the misconception that it has to be done every 3,000 miles, but this is not true. Most vehicles can go between 5,000 and 7,000 miles without an oil change, but this depends on how much you use the vehicle and how harsh the climate is.

If you live in an extreme climate and drive your vehicle a lot, then you should go by mileage. If you do not drive very often, though, and your climate is a mild one, you can go by your calendar and change it only twice a year.

The gasoline that you put in your vehicle costs more over the lifespan of the vehicle than anything else; in some cases, even the vehicle itself. Try to save on gasoline by doing the following things:

Avoid using premium fuel unless your owner's manual says your vehicle has to have it. There is no difference between the performance of regular unleaded and premium gasoline.

Make sure your tires are always properly inflated, since this not only lowers your gas mileage, but can also put you at risk for a blowout while you are driving. Be safe.

Make sure your gas cap seals completely. Gasoline evaporates, so if your cap is not sealing completely, your money will, too.

Avoid speeding. Once you start to go over about 55 mph, you are burning more gasoline than necessary. Speeding will burn gasoline much faster than going the speed limit will.

Avoid resting your left foot on the brake pedal. Even just a little pressure can create a drag that will make your engine work harder and not only that, but you will wear the brakes out sooner than normal.

Another thing that you can do to save money is make sure you know how to change a flat tire, should you break down on the side of the road. Changing the tire is a lot cheaper if you do it yourself.

Always make sure you have either a spare tire or emergency roadside assistance through an extended warranty program or one of your credit cards (many credit cards have these now) that will cover the cost of a tow.