Simple Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Owning a vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases a person makes, second only to the purchase of a home. It only stands to reason that you should protect this investment. Proper maintenance will help to maximize the value of your car or truck when it comes time to sell or trade it. This isn't difficult to do, you just need to schedule things and do them on a regular basis.

Become familiar with your particular car's Owner's Manual. Inside the manual you will find the recommended maintenance procedures. Safety precautions will also be spelled out there, and it is extremely important to be aware of these. Your Owner's Guide will list some things that should be regularly serviced or replaced at a specific period of time. A car or truck is a mechanical device, and mechanical devices do wear out over time.

Regularly check all the fluids, such as the coolant, engine oil, and transmission fluid. You always want to be sure the fluids are clean and at the proper level.

Each time you fill up your gas tank, you should check the air pressure in your tires. Proper air pressure will extend the life of your tires and improve your gas mileage. Purchase a good quality pressure guage and keep it in your car. Make it a habit to check the air pressure as you fill the gas tank.

Windshield wipers are important as poor visibility and rain make driving a chore. If your windshield wipers don't seem to be effective in providing a clear view, then replace them as soon as possible. It is a quick and easy process that can save someone's life.

Always keep your vehicle clean. Don't let dirt and grime buildup. It is best to wash your vehicle on a regular basis, and doing so will keep your paint shiny and looking good! It is also important to maintain the wax finish as a deterrant from corrosion.

Never skimp when buying replacement parts. Whenever you find you need to replace a worn out part, try to use a high quality replacement part. Trying to save a nickel on a part can cost you dollars in the future.

A car is no different than you are I (well, maybe a little different), so it doesn't hurt to have it checked out by a doctor (certified mechanic) once each year. You might just discover something that needs to be handled before it happens and save some money in the process!

And here is the number one thing you should do. Take care of problems as soon as they appear. Never put this off until tomorrow because a simple problem can turn into a disaster if you wait to fix it.

Preventative Vehicle Maintenance Saves Money and Time

Routine maintenance will ensure that your vehicle is working properly and efficiently. Worn and damaged equipment are replaced or repaired, preventing breakdowns and vehicle malfunctions. Engine fluids and filters are checked and replaced or replenished during these inspections as well. Tires are inflated to the proper pressure level, improving your car's fuel-efficiency and improving handling.

Every new car comes with an operating manual that outlines recommended maintenance intervals specific to your vehicle. Performing the services provided in this guide will help prevent major service and repairs in the future. Taking proper care of your car can increase its life, optimize gas mileage, protect your vehicle warranty, and improve resale value.

Increase The Life Of Your Vehicle:

Proper care and regular maintenance will help your vehicle run properly, reducing the stress and strain on the engine, transmission, and other components. Regular check ups are necessary to diagnose and fix problems that could compromise the owner's safety. A large percentage of vehicle accidents are the result of poor vehicle maintenance.

Optimize Gas Mileage:

With gas prices constantly rising, drivers are looking for ways to improve gas mileage. A well-maintained vehicle will burn fuel more efficiently, saving you money at the gas pump. Proper tire pressure diminishes road friction, allowing your car's engine to run more efficiently. Keeping your car well tuned and fixing damaged parts can increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle as well.

Protect Vehicle Warranty:

In most cases, completing minimum maintenance guidelines are necessary to keep a vehicle's warranty valid. The manufacture may deny warranty claims if minimum maintenance standards have not been met. Denied claims can result in costly, out-of-pocket repairs for vehicle owners.

Improve Resale Value:

One of the most important reasons to follow routine maintenance schedules is to increase the resale value of your vehicle. While all vehicles depreciate over time, completing proper maintenance at suggested intervals can increase resale value. Many used car buyers are willing to pay more when given evidence of proper maintenance. Dealerships prefer to buy vehicles with complete maintenance records because those vehicles are easier to certify. Be sure to keep a complete record of all routine maintenance so that you will have proof when selling your vehicle.

Vehicle Maintenance - The Importance of Scheduled Maintenance to Avoid Costly Automotive Repair

Changing your own oil, oil filter and air filter(s) is an example of a way to save your money. Making sure your tires are properly inflated can not only help keep your car safe, but also make your car a little bit more fuel-efficient. Another part of car maintenance involves your brakes. Keeping them up to date and changing them regularly can not only make your safer, but save you some more money down the road. Car maintenance can include a variety of other simple things, such as a car wash. The paint on your car is susceptible to erosion, and other problems.

Taking the car to your mechanic is still important and should be done because there are things only a mechanic can do like tire aligning, checking the engine, etc.

Overall, car maintenance is extremely worthwhile because it will help your car make it as long as you need it to go.

Many of our customers are choosing to extend the life of their vehicles by scheduling factory recommended maintenance service on a timely basis; in addition they are having repairs made before they become major problems.

To help you keep your vehicle at its peak performance our service team has compiled a list of the top ten maintenance and repair items that you can easily and affordably perform to extend the life of your gas fueled or hybrid, car, truck or SUV.

Top Maintenance Services to Extend the Life of Your Vehicle

1) Change the Oil and Filter

Change your oil regularly to keep internal engine parts cleaner which lubricates the engine. By performing this, it catches and removes elements that are harmful to the engine. Prolonging oil changes can cause these damaging particles to create what is called "sludge" in the engine. This is the most important service you can do to extend the life of your car.

2) Change Air Filter(s) and Cabin Filter(s)

A dirty air filter prevents the necessary volume of clean air from reaching the engine which affects the emission control systems of the car; reducing air flow and causing a too rich air-fuel mixture which can foul the spark plugs. A clean air filter results in improved gas mileage, better acceleration, increased engine life, lower emissions and overall improved engine performance. Vehicles also have cabin filter(s) which are for the ventilation system. It will produce problems if it gets too plugged up with leaves and dirt.

3) Replace the Spark Plugs

Fouled spark plugs can create an engine miss-fire, rough idle and even starting problems.

4) Flush the Cooling System

A cooling system extends the life your radiator, heater and engine by flushing away dirt and rust particles that clog up the cooling system. Recommended flushing of cooling system every two years.

5) Perform Tire Maintenance

Regular tire rotation and proper inflation will increase fuel mileage and lengthen the life of the tires.

6) Change the Transmission Fluid

A transmission fluid change regularly can extend the life of the transmission. Performing a transmission service faithfully will alleviate possibility of major transmission failures.

7) Maintain the Brakes

Brake pads and shoes, if left neglected, your brakes will ultimately fail. This can cause damage to other, more expensive brake parts such as rotors, calipers and drums. Perform a yearly brake inspection to find and avoid potential problems before they become a major repair expense. Flushing your brake fluid every two years will also be a benefit.

8) Change your Fuel Filter and Fuel Injection Service

It is recommended that you change your fuel filter on a yearly basis. However, a yearly replacement really only applies to high mileage vehicles. If vehicles are used only on occasion or only drive short distances on a daily basis, then you can probably get away with a filter replacement every two or even three years. Fuel injection service extends the life expectancy of the injectors and can increase fuel mileage.

9) Replace the Timing Belt

A majority of manufacturers recommend timing belt replacement between 60,000 and 105,000 miles depending on make and model. Replacing the timing belt, before it breaks can save you a financial nightmare. If a timing belt breaks on an interface engine, you will have Bent valves, busted pistons, a cracked head, and possibly more extreme damage. This is very costly and want to avoid at all costs. If the belt fails on a non-interface engine, the engine will immediately shut down leaving you stranded. Timing Chains rarely break and will give you ample warning that they are going to fail. Also, as a rule of thumb, when replacing the belt is well worth getting your water pump replaced at the same time and less expensive due to the labor in replacing the water pump alone.

10) Perform an Annual or Seasonal Complete Vehicle Inspection

Have your vehicle inspected periodically extends the life of major components of your vehicle by diagnosing issues before they become major problems. Remember, getting your oil changed usually does not include a thorough and complete vehicle inspection.