Auto Repairs - Making Your Car Last

Feb 13
14:12

2011

Jay Rakestraw

Jay Rakestraw

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Have you ever seen the commercials where people have driven the same car for a million miles? If you would like to be one of them you will need a little luck and a regular schedule for your car's preventive maintenance.

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We all know that proper regularly scheduled preventive maintenance is important for our automobiles. We have seen the commercials where people have driven the same car for a million miles and wish that our cars would last like those. But all too often,Auto Repairs - Making Your Car Last Articles the trap that we sometimes fall into is ignoring what we can't see. We don't see the dirty oil, for example, and our cars are operating fine so we tend to put our preventive maintenance chores off longer than we should. But neglecting our vehicles is one of the last things that we ought to be doing. Let's take a look at a couple of seemingly minor upkeep items to see the impact on the long-term health of our vehicles.

First up is the dreaded oil change. It is inconvenient to take our cars to the local mechanic or oil change company so we put it off. Nobody likes to sit around and wait for technicians to finish, but if we want to extend the life of our engines, it's something that we should not neglect. Our engines are built with many constantly moving parts and proper lubrication is essential. Over time, the ability of the oil to do its job, providing the necessary lubrication, becomes compromised. As this happens, the parts will begin to wear on each other leading to engine breakdown. Additionally, your motor oil helps to keep your engine clean while helping to keep your car's engine cool.

Next up is a general tune up. If you want to keep your car running at a top level of performance and reliability, do not neglect a regular tune up schedule. Your local mechanic will take the time to check many areas of your vehicle so that you can enjoy stress free driving. You need to periodically check that your brake pads are not excessively worn, that your battery is performing correctly, other fluid levels (for example, your brake fluid and transmission fluid) are correct, and that your tires are properly inflated.

Do not underestimate the importance of regularly checking these items. If your brake pads become excessively worn, you can damage your brake rotors and turn a small maintenance item into a major repair. And we know that major repairs come with major repair bills. Likewise, if your tires are not properly inflated, you will cause unnecessary wear and tear on your tires resulting in having to buy a new set long before you should have needed them. The old adage about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure has never been more relevant.

Times have changed over the past few years and more and more people these days are making the decision to keep their cars longer and longer. In order to make sure that your vehicle lasts as long as possible, proper maintenance is essential. Who knows, maybe one day you will be making your own commercial after your car hits one million miles. Take care of your car, and chances are, your car will take care of you.