Keep Your Car on the Road with Preventative Maintenance

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!

Tune Ups

Maintain Your Vehicle With Regular Tune Ups

Following scheduled maintenance intervals and getting regular tune ups on your vehicle is a great way to keep it running smoothly, safely and efficiently. A properly tuned vehicle can have increased gas mileage, better performance, and improved emissions (better for the environment).

What Is A Tune Up?

Essentially, a tune up is a one over by a skilled mechanic of all of your vehicle’s important systems to be sure everything is in optimal condition.

Common items that are checked during a regular tune up are spark plugs, idle speed check and adjustment, set timing, inspect the choke, throttle linkage, spark plug wires, and distributor cap. Usually a tune up includes checking the battery as well, because this is a very important component in a vehicle’s function, with a known limited life span.

Other things that are routinely inspected during a tune up are tires, transmission and fluid, brakes, exhaust, air pressure, and belts.

Simple things like checking the fluids and air pressure in a vehicle’s tires can lead to a noticeable positive difference in fuel efficiency, meaning you’ll be spending less at the pump!

Fortunately, most newer vehicles need very little when it comes to tune ups, as long as the scheduled maintenance is being performed alongside with oil changes at normal intervals.

Brakes

Stay Safe - Maintain Your Brakes!

Brakes are the most important safety device on your car. If you’ve ever partially lost your brakes in the past, you’ll agree that it’s not something you want to experience again. Inspecting your brakes twice a year for wear and damage can protect you and your passengers. Additionally, it will also help save you money by catching any damage before it becomes too costly.

Brake System Component Issues

The master cylinder, the heart of the vehicles braking system, holds the brake fluid when it is not being delivered to the brakes through the brake lines. If brake fluid leaks because the master cylinder is worn or brake lines are plugged or broken, the fluid cannot be delivered and the brake pads will become ruined.

The brake fluid itself can become dirty or contaminated as it draws rust-causing moisture and picks up other debris, or it can break down from excess heat. Clean brake fluid is either clear or slightly yellow, while dirty brake fluid may be brown or even black. Old and dirty brake fluid can damage ABS brake systems internally.

The brake lines connect to the master cylinder through a combination valve, which combines a metering and proportioning valve. It regulates the pressure on the front and rear wheels to make sure both sets of brakes are applied simultaneously. A malfunctioning combination valve may cause the wheels to lock up.

Brake System Parts Wear Out Over Time

Brake pads and shoes can be made of ceramic, metal or organic materials, while the disc rotors and drums they press against are made of metal. Because the pads and shoes create friction to stop the car, they gradually wear down over time and may wear away completely, letting the metal of the calipers and cylinders they are attached to grind against the rotors and drums and damage them. Some pads have a metal strip attached that sounds a warning whistle when the pad becomes too worn, but this strip sounds only when the car is in motion and the brakes are not applied.

Make sure to have your mechanic routinely check your vehicle's brakes to maintain the safety of your vehicle.

Scheduled Automotive Maintenance

Avoid Costly Repairs With Regular Car Maintenance

Everyone dreads the thought of a major car repair, but the bright side is that many major vehicle issues can be avoided by following the vehicle maintenance schedule recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Each vehicle has varying service intervals, but there are common guidelines to follow about what service to perform, and how often. Keeping up with these intervals will ensure that your vehicle keeps running smoothly and safely. The normal service intervals are three months, six months and one year. At these intervals there are several different routinely recommended services that are outlined below.

Auto Maintenance at 3 month Intervals

Every three months it’s a good idea to have your coolant level and mixture checked. Coolant helps regulate the temperature of your engine in all seasons. Keeping the right mixture and level of coolant can help you avoid potentially costly radiator repairs. Also at three months, the oil and brake fluid should be checked to ensure proper lubrication for moving parts. Other things commonly inspected at three months include power steering fluid and lug bolts. Topping off your washer fluid is also recommended.

Brake Inspections at 6 Months

In addition to the inspections above, every six months you should have a brake inspection done on your vehicle, as well as tire depth. The brake inspection will ensure your brakes have enough life in them for maximum stopping power and safety. A tire depth check is a simple check to see how much tread remains on your tires. Other commonly performed procedures around 6 months are cleaning the battery to ensure function and replacing your windshield wipers.

Check Major Running Systems Once a Year

Once a year you should bring your vehicle to a trusted mechanic who can perform some preventative maintenance. Common one year maintenance items include replacing the spark plugs, flushing the radiator, and replacing brake pads. Spark plugs are a fairly inexpensive way to keep the motor of your vehicle running smoothly, and like many other parts in a vehicle, they wear out over time. A radiator flush is just as it sounds- flushing out the radiator to avoid the build up of corrosion over time. Just like spark plugs, brake pads wear out over time. Your mechanic can easily check the wear on your brake pads and replace them if necessary.

Following the scheduled maintenance intervals recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer can save you time, money, and ensure your safety. Be sure to keep up with recommended maintenance, and your vehicle will be in great shape for years to come!