SCHEDULED SERVICE and INTERVAL

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Daily driving causes stress on car parts and while vehicles are designed to handle all kinds of driving habits, your car is bound to wear down over time. 

• Routine car maintenance is essential for the safety, reliability, help prevent expensive repairs, extend vehicle lifespan and preserves your vehicle’s value. 
• Follow maintenance schedules for routine inspections, fluid checks, part replacements, and addressing warning signs promptly to avoid bigger problems down the road.

Here are the most common parts and fluids that need routine replacement.

Fluids: The most common proactive maintenance is oil change!  Fluids are the life blood of your vehicle and over time, the oil breaks down and loses its ability to lubricate effectively. This can cause improper lubrication, leading to friction, heat, and wear on engine components that could cause potential engine damage leading to expensive repairs.  Here’s when to change them:

• Engine Oil: Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles based on your vehicle
• Coolant: Every 30,000 miles or two years
• Brake Fluid: Every 30,000 to 50,000 miles 
• Power Steering Fluid: Every 50,000 miles or three years
• Transmission Fluid: Every 30,000-50,000 miles based on your vehicle
• Transfer case fluid: Every 50,000 miles based on your vehicle
• Differential (Front/Rear):  50,000 miles based on your vehicle

Filters: You’ve probably been asked if you want your filters replaced during an oil change. But what you might not know, is how important it is to regularly swap out filters. Driving with clogged air filters limits the airflow that reaches the engine, causing it to burn through fuel faster. Wait too long, and a clogged air filter can even cause the engine to misfire due to all the dirt building up on the spark plugs. With rising gas prices, it’s best to keep these filters clean, so you can extend the mileage you get from each tank of gas. Air filters should be changed every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, or about once a year. Other filters that need routine replacement include:

• Oil filters: Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles
• Fuel filter: Every 30,000 miles
• Cabin air filters: Every 12,000 miles or 12 months

PCV Valve: Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve ventilates the engine by rerouting harmful "blow-by" gases from the crankcase back into the intake manifold to be burned, which reduces emissions, prevents pressure buildup, and keeps the engine oil clean. This process protects the engine from damage, reduces oil consumption, and improves overall engine health. 

Spark Plugs: Spark plugs generate a spark, igniting the air and fuel mixture that fires up the engine. Over time, the sparks lead to corrosion, and if used past their lifetime, they can cause engine trouble. Spark plugs should be replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

Brake Pads: Hearing a screeching sound each time you apply the brakes? That’s an instantly recognizable sound that your brake pads have worn down to the metal. Every time you hit the brakes, you wear the pads down a little at a time. When you hear that screech, it’s time to replace your brake pads as soon as possible. Driving with worn pads can cause the car to struggle more to slow down, put more stress on tires, and cause damage to the brake rotors and calipers. Brake pads should be checked during every tire rotation and replaced if needed.

Tires: Tires need to be replaced when the tread is worn down. Otherwise, the tires will have a tough time gripping the road during slick weather conditions like rain and snow. You can extend the lifetime of your tires through proactive maintenance like routine tire rotations. By rotating the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, the tread will wear equally. Maintaining your tires can keep them lasting for their full life cycle of about six years.

Spare Tire: Your spare tire (if equipped) is the most neglected item in our car. It serves a vital purpose in an emergency should you have a flat tire. You should remove it, check the pressure and coat with a tire lubricant.  By servicing the tire every six (6) months, it will keep it from dry rotting, serviceable if needed and lasting the life cycle of the car.  

Shocks and Struts (Suspension): The suspension system is one of those intricate parts of your car that you probably don’t think about until it stops doing its job. It plays a vital safety role in how your car handles, by controlling spring movement to absorb bumps, keeping tires on the road for better handling, braking, and a smoother ride. If you find that one of the shocks needs to be replaced, replace both (front or back) at the same time. Yeah, it sucks, but it’s better in the long run for the overall safety and well-being of your car.

Battery: We’re used to changing batteries in things like flashlights, toys, remotes, phones, and computers, and our cars are no different. The batteries in our cars wear down over time, unable to hold a charge like they used to. Depending on where you live, cold winters can be brutal on car batteries. On average, car batteries last around 4-5 years. However, here are some driving habits that affect the car’s battery life:

• Letting the car idle too long
• Leaving A/C and car lights on while stationary
• Heavy acceleration

Alternator: The alternator depends on your car battery’s health. When a car’s battery wears down, the alternator is forced to make up for the lack of power. An overworked alternator can lead to malfunctions. On the other hand, the health of the alternator will also directly impact the battery. Unhealthy alternators will drain a car’s battery, causing the car to die. It also impacts the lifespan of car batteries. On average, the alternator lasts around 6-10 years, or about 80,000 to 150,000 miles.

 Inspections:  You should have your car inspected by a qualified mechanic every 12 months to look for problems. A certified mechanic can perform a complete inspection of your car and identify problems you are not able to.

Signs you care needs maintenance:  The most well-maintained car will encounter problems that require unexpected service. Often, the vehicle will let you know before it stops operating that there’s an issue needing attention.  The “check engine” light and “service engine soon” indications on the dashboard aren’t the only clues that should prompt you to call a repair shop.

• Braking: Any problem with your brakes is a critical safety issue. Immediately address a "soft brake pedal" or any squeaking or scraping sounds.
• Lacking acceleration: A change in vehicle performance may mean it’s time for new spark plugs or a complete engine tuneup.
• Vibration: If you feel the car shaking when starting, turning, or stopping, have a mechanic diagnose the cause.
• Stalling or difficulty starting: When your vehicle stalls or won’t start, it’s time to check with a mechanic for a solution to the problem.
• Fuel efficiency: Bad sensors or leaky fuel injectors might be the reason for changes in your gas mileage.
• Shifting: Automatic transmissions are designed to shift gears smoothly. Hard shifts and lurching might indicate a transmission problem.

Wrapping Up: 

Proactive maintenance plays an important role in keeping your car functioning for years to come. These are the most common car parts that need routine replacement, and if ignored, they can cause further damage to your vehicle and even lead to dangerous accidents. If you start to notice any strange sounds, smell any weird odors, or feel any alarming vibrations, it’s best to get your vehicle looked at by a certified mechanic.

NOTE: If you haven’t had most of these parts serviced or changed in a while, contact up about becoming a member.