Whether you are planning on keeping your car for several years or you know you will want to trade it in for the next exciting model, you need to keep your vehicle in top-notch running condition and avoid major mechanical disasters as best as possible. Routine preventative maintenance is the single most important thing you can do as a car owner to prevent future disasters. Any mechanic you talk to will tell you: the last thing you want to do with your car is ignore preventative maintenance. We talked to some of our Master Mechanics to find out exactly what you can do to keep your car running at its best.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
Has your owner’s manual been in your glove box, still shrink-wrapped, since you bought your vehicle? Well, you need to open it up! Your regular maintenance schedule is inside this informative paper weight, so you’ll want to make sure you read it. Every manufacturer varies when it comes to suggested maintenance timelines (i.e. when to get an oil change), so it’s important to read your owner’s manual in order to know exactly what your vehicle needs and when it will need it. Knowing your car’s specific needs will also help you talk to your service advisor at your next appointment. So find a comfy chair and snuggle up with your new favorite book, your owner’s manual!
Seriously, Get Your Oil Changed
We’ve all heard it before: “Needing an oil change every 3,000 miles is a myth.” While everyone has a different suggestion on when you should get your vehicle’s oil changed, it doesn’t change the fact that you need to get it changed regularly. Your owner’s manual (see, there it is) will tell you exactly when. Your specific make and model may suggest 5,000 miles or even as high as 10,000 miles, so it’s important to know what’s recommended for your car. Over time, the oil in your car picks up dirt and can turn to sludge; this can cause corrosion in your engine and, in turn, decrease the life of your engine.
Take Care of Your Tires
To make sure your car drives smoothly and your tires wear evenly, it’s very important to rotate and balance your tires according to your manufacturer’s guidelines. This will also increase the life of the tires (which can be very expensive to replace). Along with your regularly scheduled tire rotations, you should also get an alignment done on your tires when needed. This will ensure that your car drives straight and that your tires wear evenly.
Check Your Fluids and Replace Your Filters
You don’t need to learn to replace fluids, like antifreeze, yourself, but you should learn how to check them. This way you’ll know when it’s time to take your vehicle in to have your fluids changed and, more importantly, you’ll know if your vehicle has a leak. Along with fluids, your vehicle also has filters that need to be changed regularly. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often your fluids and filters need to be replaced, so be sure to read it over.
Routine maintenance helps you to not only prolong the life of your car but can also help avoid costly major repairs. If you have any questions about what routine maintenance your vehicle needs, you can consult your owner’s manual or give the experts in our service department a call. Our Service Advisors here at Milton Ruben are always ready to answer any questions you may have about your vehicle’s needs.
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