Your car takes care of you by getting you from place to place every day. It only makes sense that you would return the favor with regular maintenance appointments. The key to good car care is being dedicated to staying on schedule. Here are some tips to help you maintain your ride for the long term.
What If I Don’t Keep Track?
Without regular maintenance appointments, your car can be damaged over time. That can lead to more frequent – and costly – repairs as well as a significantly decreased lifespan for your vehicle. Running with dirty or insufficient levels of vital fluids can harm your engine. Failure to maintain safety systems such as the brakes puts riders at risk. The investment of time and money into routine checks is much smaller than that of major repairs.
What Needs to Be Done?
Regular maintenance can involve diagnoses on a variety of different systems. However, there are some basics that will cover your car’s major mechanics:
- Oil change: Plan to do so every 3,000 to 7,000 miles depending on the oil your engine requires. Not only is it a simple and inexpensive process, but it can extend your engine life and improve your fuel economy.
- Wheel alignment: Go longer between sets of tires by getting wheels aligned regularly. This will also be beneficial for the suspension system.
- Fluid replacement: Flushing and refilling some vital systems will keep your car in tip-top shape. Transmission, power steering, braking and coolant systems all need attention; the duration between flushes varies by system. Ask your service technicians about the ideal schedule.
- Air conditioning: Extremely hot climates take their toll on your car’s AC system. You’ll want to get your hoses and belts checked regularly, and plan to get the coolant recharged when needed.
- Fuel filter: This important part usually is replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles to boost your fuel efficiency and ability to accelerate.
How Can I Remember?
Work with your service center to create timelines for each type of service. Make a list of the most important checks, then mark them on your yearly calendar. Most repair shops will schedule recurring appointments and send reminders when visits are impending. Some procedures, like oil changes, are accompanied by a helpful reminder sticker on your windshield. Finally, you can setup calendar reminders on your phone so that you get notifications when important maintenance dates are coming up.
Whether you keep a service journal or use your smartphone for help, it is important to stay on track with car maintenance. Sun Auto Service is happy to help with the process, so give us a call today to schedule a full evaluation.