Preventative Maintenance
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In other words, it is much better to prevent problems than to try to fix them later on. Though these words were spoken long before the invention of the modern automobile, this common saying holds a lot of truth when it comes to performing preventative maintenance on your car. Preventative maintenance is the most important thing you can do to keep your car on the road, and it can save you a lot of money on future repair bills.
When it comes to preventative maintenance, you’ve probably heard conflicting information on what does and does not need to be done. There are also plenty of myths - like needing to change the oil every 3,000 miles. So how do you sort out fact from fiction? The answer is easier than you might think. Just check out your car’s owner’s manual. It will tell you everything you need to know about what the manufacturer recommends for your specific car in terms of preventative maintenance. Your manual will tell you:
- How often to change the oil
- When belts need to be replaced
- How often to change filters
- The exact maintenance that needs to be performed at various intervals, such as 50,000 miles, 100,000 miles, etc.
Reading your manual will also provide you with valuable information that will help you maximize your car’s performance and lifespan, such as what type of oil, coolant and gasoline to use. Using the right fluids ensures that your vehicle runs at its peak performance and prevents you from voiding the warranty or causing costly damage.
Basic Maintenance Every Car Needs
Though the exact recommended maintenance details vary among vehicles, there are certain things that you should be doing regardless of what you’re driving. For starters, check your fluids regularly. Your oil, power steering fluid, coolant, transmission fluid and even wiper fluid all need to be checked from time to time to make sure you aren’t running low. There are several other things you should also do to maintain your car, such as:
- Check and clean your battery terminals if needed
- Check the air pressure in your tires, and add air if necessary
- Replace air filters
- Replace your windshield wiper blades
- Change your spark plugs
- Have your tires rotated and balanced
All of these things are relatively simple, and most are fairly easy to do on your own. Or, if you would prefer trusting all of your vehicle’s preventative maintenance to a professional mechanic, these basic tasks are pretty affordable. Whether you choose to do the maintenance yourself or hire someone else to do it, keeping up with preventative maintenance can save you a lot of money by preventing major problems that require costly repairs. In addition, the first signs of issues can often be detected during routine maintenance, allowing them to be corrected before they become major.
Simply performing regular preventative maintenance is the most important step you can take the extend the life of your car. Though a lot of maintenance is simple and can be performed in your driveway or garage, you can could also choose to entrust your car to the pros. In doing so, you can be absolutely certain that all the correct maintenance is performed, and when you let a professional work on your car, you can rest assured knowing that he will detect and fix any potential problems.
When you bring your car to Tune Tech Automotive for preventative maintenance, you can rest assured knowing that your car is in good hands. Give us a call at 303-364-3391 to schedule an appointment with one of our highly-trained and ASE-certified mechanics today!
