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We all know that catching a small issue early can curb massive repair bills later down the line; this is one good reason to have your car serviced regularly. Standard preventive maintenance keeps your vehicle flush with fluids, adjusted, properly lubricating needed parts, and general cleaning and inspections. Your mechanic is a lot like your car's doctor who will keep your vehicle healthy, they know what to keep an eye out for and can help you catch a small issue before it snowballs into a major repair.
What type of car owner are you? Do you keep your car maintained, scheduling regular services? Or do you wait for something to go wrong with your vehicle and deal with that squeak, dash light, or noise only when it becomes a bigger problem? Reactive car owners often have to spend more money on their vehicles than owners who schedule regular maintenance based on mileage.
Here is a list of preventive maintenance to use as a guide when thinking about your car:
Oil Changes
Give your car regular oil changes, and it will thank you. Filters are often replaced at the same time, which can catch pollutants before making it into your cabin also talk about the frequency of changes. A good rule of thumb is 3,000 miles, however, with the new oil technology on the market, extending your oil's life. You may need to bring your car in less frequently for oil changes, depending.
Fluid and Belt Checks
Regularly checking your fluids helps keep you familiar with your car. Open the hood and take a look around. There are caps with different labels to put fluids such as antifreeze, wiper fluid, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. Your car needs each of these fluids to operate correctly.
Belts such as timing and serpentine belts should get a visual inspection. If they break on you, it could mean a new engine. Most owners manuals recommend replacing these belts every 60,000 miles or so for standard preventive maintenance to extend the life of your car. Having old belts on your vehicle is a bit like playing Russian roulette.
Tire Inspections
Tires are your lifeline on the road. Having a good tread that has even wear is a crucial component to keeping you safe. Take a penny and stick it in between your tire tread. If you see Lincoln's head, then it is time to get a fresh set on your car. Taking your vehicle in for regular rotations can extend the life of your tires. If you find that your tires are wearing unevenly or that your steering wheel is out of center, it may be time for an alignment. Tires can get expensive, so make sure they are wearing evenly. Many tire shops offer free rotations and inspections, so take advantage of that service.
Clean Air
Cabin filters are easy to replace and can keep you breathing fresh air. Depending on where you adventure to or live, your cabin air filter can get dirty quite quickly. Your owner's manual has recommended filter changes, or you can plan to replace them during your oil changes. Treat yourself to clean air!
Inspect and Clean That Battery
A simple inspection and wipe down of your battery with a brush can extend the life of your car. Check your jumper cables and make sure your battery jumper has a full charge. It is a good idea to see what your car battery is charging at. If you don't own a battery tester, most auto parts stores offer free battery testing and fluid check, swing by and take them up on that service.
Spark Plugs
How often do we think of spark plugs when we drive our car? Spark plugs are not something we often think about. However, they are the igniter for our cylinders. Your owner's manual is the best place to find recommendations for a replacement schedule. The qualified mechanics at Autotrend Auto Repair are happy to help you with that as well.
Wiper Blades
Having a good view from your windshield is crucial to everyone's safety in the car and for those around you too. Wiper blades are rather inexpensive and easy to replace, but if you want to squeeze a little extra life out of your existing blades, scrape and wash your windshield good and wipe your blades down with some denatured alcohol and see if that helps clear up streaking.
Rolling Dirty?
Simply keeping your car clean can prevent rust issues, prolong the life of your wiper blades, keep your rotors from rusting, and overall keep your vehicle looking like new. So, bathe your car and enjoy a clean ride, it is right for you and your vehicle.
When you want the best for your car, turn to Autotrend Auto Repair. We specialize in transmission and auto repair for all American, Asian, VW, and Audi vehicles. We love to partner with our clients to help maintain or improve your car's performance as well as to extend its life expectancy. Whether you drive an Asian or American vehicle, we are here for you! If your vehicle requires general auto repair, oil change service, new brakes, advanced diagnostic testing, or anything in between, you can count on our ASE-Certified auto mechanics to get the job done right the first time. For best service, schedule an appointment online or give Autotrend Auto Repair a call. You'll be glad you did. Schedule an appointment for service or contact us online for a stress-free auto repair experience. See you soon!
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