Regular maintenance can alleviate the need for costly car repairs, much like regular health physicals help keep you healthy. Such maintenance includes getting oil changed, having other fluid levels checked and flushed, getting brakes checked and cleaned, keeping your car clean, and getting tires rotated.
While taking good care of your car may not eliminate all needs for car repair,
a little TLC does go a long way toward keeping your repair bills lower than they might otherwise be. Getting your vehicle serviced regularly is not just the way mechanics make their “bread and butter” money; just like regular well visits to your primary care giver keep potential problems from getting worse, maintenance appointments help keep your vehicle healthy. Some of the most common procedures used to promote continued vehicle health and performance include oil changes, fluid checks and flushes, brake inspections, car washes, and tire rotations. Understanding why each of these actions are needed can help you keep your vehicle in good condition.
Oil changes
This is probably the first thing that come to most people’s minds, when it comes to vehicle maintenance. Since your vehicle’s oil helps cool and lubricate its moving parts, having enough oil is clearly important to your vehicle’s well-being. Dirty oil can be dangerous for your vehicle, as well, just like inhaling smoke or other dirty air can hurt your lungs. Dirty oil prompts sludge to build up in a car’s motor, decreasing its efficiency.
Fluid checks & flushes
When fluids run low, stamina is low. And when a vehicle is pushed beyond its levels, damage can be easily caused. In the same way that you’d feel less able to run a marathon on an empty stomach and with no water for relief, your car will be less likely to perform well if its engine isn’t properly nourished or cooled down.
Brake inspections
In addition to checking the braking system and replacing worn brake pads, brake inspections often include cleaning “brake dust” that has accumulated throughout the braking system and the wheels. If it isn’t washed off, it can cause damage to the finish of your wheels. Think of it like sand or sawdust inside your shoe. After a while, it would cause blisters, which would prohibit you from being able to walk comfortably or long. Chemical brake cleaners are recommended, for the job, as opposed to air compressors, due to health risks that can come from the dust, which actually consists, in part, of metal particles of brake pads.
Car washes
One of the main benefits of having a clean car is avoiding wear and tear to your vehicle’s exterior. However, especially in colder climates, undercarriage cleaning helps prevent corrosion and rust from attacking your vehicle’s vital parts. Brake lines, mufflers, and other metal pieces can rust, causing big car repair bills or accidents (and, therefore, more need for repair). If you live in an area where salt is used on roads, you should get your car washed often, weekly if possible.
Tire rotation
Uneven wear on tires can lead to alignment issues, which can cause lower fuel efficiency, greater likelihood of blow outs, and increased risk of accidents. If you’ve ever had a sore foot and walked lopsided, as a result, causing hip and back pain, you can understand the issues.
Like preventive medicine, preventive vehicle maintenance helps keep your car healthy. By scheduling routine visits to your mechanic, you can avoid having to make last-minute and more costly appointments for needed car repairs.
