Owning a reliable car isn’t something that just happens. Maybe it seems like your uncle was able to get his vehicle to last 250,000 miles or more out of nowhere, but there’s a reason for that. It’s because he likely took excellent care of his car and made sure to perform proper maintenance on the vehicle by either doing it himself or taking it to an auto repair specialist.
At its core, car maintenance is really just several little things that add up to one big thing: a reliable automobile that you can trust to get you where you need to go. If you want to keep your car running for 10 years or more, it’s important that you handle these tasks whenever they’re recommended by the manufacturer!
Oil Changes
By far, an oil change is more important at preventing a need for auto repair than any other aspect of car maintenance. That’s because the oil in your car affects everything in your engine and how it operates. Whether it’s cooling down parts of your engine, flushing out sludge and other particles that can stop your engine from functioning, improving your gas mileage or simply providing proper lubrication for the different parts that make your car operate, fresh oil is the most important fluid in your car.
If your vehicle is filled with worn or dirty oil, you’re going to find yourself with an overheating vehicle and many parts wearing out long before they should. Not only does that prematurely age your car, it also puts a major strain on your wallet. When you’re constantly having to shell out cash for new parts and repairs, it makes it a lot more difficult to really enjoy your vehicle.
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Plus, when you opt for an oil change, you’re also getting an auto repair expert to take a close look at your vehicle and let you know when and where you might need to shift your attention next. If you have a car expert spot a problem before it can occur, fixing it can save you hundreds of dollars. That’s the kind of thing that can only happen if you take the time to get an oil change. Be sure that you’re always using the recommended kind of oil for your vehicle, because not all motor oil is the same!
Tire Maintenance
Tire rotations might seem to be a pain, but they can really make up for their cost by extending the life of your tires. After all, would you rather pay $20 for a tire rotation or a few hundred dollars for a new set of four tires? If you get your tires rotated regularly, you can make sure they all wear down evenly and extend their tread lives as long as possible.
You’ll also want to make sure that your tires are properly inflated and well-balanced. Balanced wheels and tires inflated to the proper PSI ensure that your car isn’t consuming more fuel than necessary, which reduces your overall cost to own the vehicle and increases the safety of the vehicle. Any time that you can make your car safer and save money in the process, that’s a win-win.
Brake Checks
Your brakes are the biggest key to driving safely. Whether you’re in stop-and-go traffic in downtown Dallas or you’re taking a long road trip somewhere, you’re going to need to be able to stop should a hazard or a distracted driver enter your path. Visiting an auto repair shop and having them check your brakes is one of the best ways to ensure that they’re working properly.
Through both visual inspections and a look at your brake fluid levels, a knowledgeable auto repair expert can let you know if your brakes are in good working order and what to do if they aren’t. This is why it’s a good idea to build up a strong relationship with an auto repair team — because when you know you can trust your auto mechanics, you can drive with confidence.
Fluid Replacements
Driving without working transmission fluid is almost as bad as driving with low oil levels: both are a disaster waiting to happen. Your car’s components are dependent on having the right amounts of fluid to ensure that they work properly. When you have the right fluid in place, you keep your components well lubricated and able to do their jobs properly. When you don’t, you can end up with metal on metal, which leads to particles floating around in the engine.
What happens when those particles find their way through the engine? They get in the way of your car’s ability to do its job correctly. Preventing that issue is an easy thing to do, and all it takes is a proper check of your fluid levels by an auto repair expert. Whenever you get any kind of service, it’s a good idea to ask them to check your fluid levels to stay ahead of a potential disaster.
How Can I Take Care of My Car?
The easiest thing to do is find a trustworthy auto repair garage and make sure that you take your car there whenever the manufacturer recommends that you do so. Be sure to study your owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with which services are coming up so that you can prepare for them.
