COMMON SERVICE MISTAKE

Skipping Routine Maintenance:  

Car maintenance is an essential aspect of vehicle ownership, yet it’s often overlooked. Regular routine maintenance is crucial for safety, preventing unexpected breakdowns and accidents, while also saving you money by avoiding major repairs.  Here are some of the benefits of regular car maintenance and why it’s essential for every car owner.

• Increased longevity - By keeping up with routine maintenance tasks like oil changes, fluid checks, and tire rotations, you can extend the life of your car. When you neglect these tasks, your car is more likely to experience premature wear and tear, which can result in costly repairs or even the need to replace your car entirely.
• Improved performance - When your car’s components are well-maintained and functioning correctly, your vehicle will run more smoothly and efficiently. This can result in better gas mileage, more responsive handling, and a more enjoyable driving experience overall.
• Increased safety - When you neglect your car’s maintenance needs, you run the risk of experiencing a breakdown or other malfunction while on the road. This can put you and your passengers in danger, as well as other drivers on the road. By keeping your car in good condition, you can minimize the risk of accidents and keep yourself and others safe.
• Cost savings - By addressing small issues before they become more significant problems, you can avoid costly repairs down the line. Additionally, a well-maintained car is likely to have a higher resale value than one that has been neglected.
• Peace of mind - When you know that your car is well-maintained and in good condition, you can feel confident and secure on the road. You won’t have to worry about unexpected breakdowns or other issues that can arise when you neglect your car’s maintenance needs.

Not using Top-Tier Gasoline: 

Many car owners sacrifice not using Top Tier Gas for cheaper gas prices. Unfortunately, this choice will end up costing them MORE in the long run. Top-Tier Gasoline provides benefits such as reduced engine deposits, improved fuel efficiency, and enhanced engine performance due to its higher levels of detergent additives. These additives help prevent carbon buildup in the fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers.  This buildup can lead to issues like rough idling, hesitation, increased emissions, and even complete engine failure particularly in modern Direct Gas Injection (DGI) engines.

Using Incorrect oil viscosity: 

Using the wrong oil can lead to poor lubrication, increased friction, overheating, decreased fuel efficiency, and long-term engine damage. Thicker oil may not flow quickly enough to properly lubricate parts, while thinner oil may not provide adequate protection. Over time, this can cause engine wear, sludge buildup, and even complete engine failure.  Use the correct oil that is recommended for your vehicle (5w20, 5w30, 5w40 etc).

Forgetting to Check Fluid Levels: 

Oil is not the only fluid necessary to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. It’s also important to keep tabs on your coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and windshield wiper fluid levels. Low fluid levels (or contaminated fluid) can cause an overheated engine, unresponsive brakes, trouble shifting gears, and dangerous driving conditions. The best practice is to check your fluid levels once every month.  

Not Changing the Air and Cabin Filters: 

A car's air filter protects the engine by trapping dirt, dust, and debris from the air before it enters the combustion chamber, ensuring clean air for efficient fuel burning. The separate cabin air filter cleans the air inside the passenger compartment that improves the air quality for occupants, reducing allergens, bacteria, and exhaust fumes. 

Disregarding Warning Lights: 

You would think a colorful dashboard warning light would be enough to convince us to take action and get our car to the shop. But that’s not always the case. Our lives get busy and many drivers have become desensitized to those warnings after one-too-many false alarms. But delaying when you see that check engine light could pose big safety risks and ultimately cost more down the road.

Ignoring Tire Pressure & Condition: 

A lot of times, drivers forget altogether about tire maintenance. When you only hop in your car to get to and from work each day, your tires are frankly out of sight and out of mind. But tire pressure impacts more than you might think. 

Incorrect tire pressure can reduce your fuel economy, shorten tire lifespan, and even increase your risk of getting into an accident. While it’s harmful for your tires to be under-inflated, you don’t want them overinflated either. And excessively or unevenly worn tires introduce a whole other set of issues. Every few months, make a habit of checking your tire pressure and refilling your tires to the manufacturer-recommended levels.

Neglecting Wheel Alignment: 

When the alignment doesn’t match your steering angle it can create major safety issues for you and your passengers. This is an even bigger deal now, with the modern Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in most new cars.  ADAS technology relies on the accuracy of steering wheel sensors. So, if your wheels aren’t properly aligned, “helpful” features like lane assist, lane departure, and automatic parking could do more harm than good.  

Missing the Warning Signs of Brake Problems: 

Working brakes are non-negotiable for safe driving. But all too often, drivers ignore (or aren’t aware of) the warning signs of brake system issues. Unusual noises, vibrations, and burning odors are just a few of the biggest signs. It’s a good idea to have your brakes checked every six months (when you have your tires rotated).

Letting AC Issues Get Out of Hand: 

You may be able to stomach a sweltering summer heat with a poor car air conditioning system, but car AC problems aren’t ONLY a comfortability concern. It is unsafe to drive without a working cooling (and heating) system. Ignoring AC issues can cause compressor failure, expensive full-system replacements, and distracted driving.

Keeping Poor Records: 

Keeping car maintenance records offers major benefits like increasing resale value, proving warranty/recall compliance, saving money by preventing unnecessary repairs, helping mechanics diagnose issues faster, and ensuring your car's longevity and reliability through scheduled upkeep. These logs act as your vehicle's history book, providing proof of care and helping you stay organized with future service needs, from oil changes to major repairs You’d be surprised how many customers can’t tell us the last time their vehicle had a maintenance checkup, let alone what the mechanics did.