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!

Oil Change Information

Oil Change FAQ

My shop, Tune Tech Automotive in Aurora, has been in business since 1995. We are a family owned and operated automotive service center that provides repair, tune ups, and belt and hose replacement, to major engine repair and transmission replacement. The technicians are ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified and are equipped to handle all major and minor repairs on domestic as well as foreign vehicles. Tune Tech is a certified NAPA AutoCare Center. Since opening my business in 1995 I have answered many questions about automotive repair, and some of the most commonly asked questions are in regards to oil changes.

Why Change My Car's Oil?

I was asked about why it’s important to change your car’s oil. As your engine runs the oil collects contaminants, that get absorbed by the oil, so it loses it’s ability to lubricate. Oil is the essential lubricant for your car’s engine, and it lets metal work against metal. Oil picks up not only the dirt, but small metal particles and and other impurities from the engine and circulates them to the oil filter so they don’t damage your engine. Contaminants like these can interfere with the regular workings of your engine because it becomes thick and abrasive over time.

What Does Oil Do?

Oil doesn’t just help filter out dirt and contaminants. It also acts as a coolant for the engine. It lowers the friction between the metal parts in your engine. Your engine also moves oil that’s sat in the oil pan, allowing it to cool off. Sometimes vehicles also move oil through a tube in the radiator where it’s cooled off even more efficiently. Without oil, a car’s engine could seize, causing costly repairs for the owner. I can’t stress how important this simple component is to the life and quality of your vehicle. It’s relatively inexpensive, as well.

How Often Should I Change The Oil In My Vehicle?

It’s best to change your vehicle’s oil according to the manufacturer’s guidelines set forth in your owner’s manual, and that those intervals may vary. If you don’t have a owners manual, it depends on the driving conditions, the type of oil you are using, and the vehicle you are driving. If you are using a conventional oil I would recommend 3000 miles. If you are using a full synthetic oil I would recommend changing the oil every 5000 miles.

Do I Have To Replace The Filter?

Another important aspect of changing the oil in a car is the oil filter. It filters out all the solid contaminants that are in the oil that you don’t want circulating through the engine causing engine damage. Over time the filter builds up all the contaminants, so it’s important to be sure to change it every time the oil is switched out.

What Happens To Used Oil?

I frequently field the question of what Tune Tech Automotive does with all the used motor oil we accumulate while working on hundreds of local customers’ vehicles each week. We collect the motor oil, and are able to store it and recycle it to heat the shop. We use an EPA approved clean burning furnace that works very well!

More information about oil changes and auto repair can be found on this page of Tune Tech Automotive’s website.