They say prevention is the best medicine. While this goes for us humans, as it turns out, the same applies to vehicle maintenance, too. We get it—it can be a bit of a hassle to remember to change the fluids or check your battery and tires on a routine basis. But what are minor inconveniences now can become major expenses down the road.
Proactive vehicle maintenance cuts back on repair expenses, ensures vehicular safety, and reduces the risk of breakdowns and other major incidents. In our estimation, all this also means less stress on you, the owner! Let’s explore our top five proactive maintenance tips for a long-lasting, stress-free vehicle, below.
Oil Changes
When it comes to regular vehicle maintenance tasks, oil changes are probably the first thing that comes to mind for most car owners. An oil change typically costs under $30, whereas an engine damaged by dirty or low engine oil can cost many thousands of dollars to rebuild. We recommend checking your vehicle’s oil levels monthly, and more frequently than that if you’re driving hard. Quickly checking the engine oil with your vehicle’s dipstick is one of the simplest tasks you can do to help prevent future heartache. If you have teens who are at or near driving age, teach them how to check their engine oil, too. It’ll pay off bigtime in the long run!
As for how often you should go in to have your oil changed, that depends on a number of factors, including how you drive your vehicle, as well as its year, make, model, and mileage. Most cars today use synthetic blend oil, which requires less frequent changing than conventional oil does. Synthetic oil usually needs to be changed every 5,000 miles or so, whereas conventional oil should be changed roughly every 3,000 miles. Full synthetic oil can go even longer, up to 7,500 miles or so before needing a change. We can assist you in ensuring that your vehicle is running on the correct type of engine oil as suggested by the manufacturer as well as by the conditions in which you drive your car.
Tire Rotation
Tire rotation is another critical component of the overall proactive maintenance picture. Without properly rotated tires, your tires will wear unevenly, not only resulting in a less than smooth ride, but an unsafe one, as well. Uneven tire wear also leads to more frequent—i.e. more expensive—tire replacements. You can learn how to spot the signs that your tires need rotation fairly quickly.
As a general rule of thumb, a vibrating, shaky drive—which can either be constant or appear above a certain speed—may indicate its time to get your tires rotated. You may also visually notice a difference in your tires. For example, the front tires may show more worn tread than the back. Or, you may notice a different pattern of wear that reoccurs overtime that is unique to your vehicle. Losing air pressure for no known reason is another red flag that it's time for some vehicle maintenance. Luckily, there’s an easy way to remember when to get your tires checked and rotated. Aim for rotating your tires—or at the very least, having them checked—each time you go in to change your engine oil.
Brake Service
Ahh, the sound of squeaky brakes. Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly music to your ears, but we think it's an important sound to be on the alert for. Part of proactive maintenance means listening to your vehicle. If you hear squeaks, squeals, or a grinding noise when applying the brakes, then take that as your cue to check your brake pads.
Other signs that your brakes may need servicing include either a too smooth or too stiff brake pedal, shaking or vibrating when applying the brakes, pulling noticeably to the left or right when braking, or the obvious brake light warning. If any of these warning signs come up for you, it’s time to bring your vehicle in for brake service.
A good mechanic will habitually check your brake fluids each time you come in for an engine oil change, too. If you change your own engine oil, then be sure to check the color of your brake fluids. If they appear dark in color, then you will know that it's time for a change. We strongly recommend that you have your brakes inspected every 10,000 miles. Why? Not only will this help prevent more expensive component replacements, but it will also help ensure you can bring your car to a full stop, no matter the driving conditions. Your vehicular safety is the reason we’re in this business.
Tune Ups
Part of every vehicle’s proactive maintenance journey includes tune ups, it's simply a matter of when. Each car is different, so depending upon the make and model of your’s, expect to schedule a tune up anywhere from every 10,000 - 100,000 miles. Tune ups are especially important as your car ages. The more miles under its belt, the more your car will benefit from it. We can help you identify how often your car should receive a tune up.
So, what exactly does a tune up entail? Your technician will check fluids, battery, and brakes, as well as running a full diagnostics check. The serpentine belts and hoses will also need to be checked and potentially replaced, depending upon the manufacturer. Your air filter and fuel filter will also be replaced to help ensure cleanliness and fuel economy. Spark plugs and ignition coils, which naturally wear over time, will also need to be replaced. Luckily, all of this occurs less frequently than the other, simpler preventative maintenance tips listed above. Nonetheless, it's important to make time for a tune up in accordance with the recommendations of your vehicle’s manufacturer and your trusted mechanic.
Suspension
The suspension system includes shocks, springs, and struts, and due to its intricacies and long lifespan, is often overlooked by the average car owner. Still, servicing the suspension system is an important part of vehicle maintenance. If overlooked for too long, a neglected suspension can turn into a rollercoaster of a ride - and an expensive tow charge, to boot. When you take your vehicle in for suspension work, your technician will thoroughly inspect your car’s suspension, ideally on an annual basis.
Regularly rotating your tires, as covered earlier, will help ensure a properly operating suspension. The service technician may also need to check your vehicle’s struts and shocks, which tends to happen at least every two years. Depending on the wear and tear of your vehicle, your struts and shocks may eventually need to be replaced. This proactive maintenance is vital to prevent further, more expensive damage to come.
Proactive Maintenance from the Experts
We hope this overview of the top five areas for proactive maintenance has been helpful to you. Think about it this way: regular vehicle maintenance may cost you up to $500 a year. Taking the reactive rather than proactive approach to your car’s service needs may easily cost you ten times as much - while also risking your safety.
Don’t put yourself and your passengers at risk. Enjoy a smooth ride by taking just a few proactive steps throughout the year. Contact us today; we’d be happy to assist you with your routine vehicle maintenance needs.