When you’ve found and purchased your dream vehicle, you might be thinking more about road trips than about trips to the service center. But it’s important to factor in the preventive maintenance your car is going to need along the way. Routine auto care in the form of oil changes, tire rotations, and the like is the best way to protect and preserve your automotive investment. Read on for some important tips about the preventive maintenance your car needs.
Read the Owner’s Manual
While all vehicles need maintenance, the timing and other specifics of that maintenance varies depending on your vehicle’s make and model. The best guideline for your car’s unique needs? The owner’s manual. Dig it out of the glove box and check to learn about the “whats” and “whens” of service as recommended by your manufacturer.
DIY Inspection
There are some preventive measures you can tackle on your own, without visiting your service center. It’s a good idea to keep tabs on your vehicle’s overall health with occasional inspections. Even automotive amateurs can spot things like bulges in the tires, hear squeaking brakes, feel vibrations that aren’t usually there. Take note of these observations as a strong indicator of when it’s time to get your vehicle tended to. You may need brake pads or new tires – and being proactive about your vehicle’s service needs can keep small problems from becoming bigger, costlier ones.
Oil Changes
One of the most common services your car will need is the humble oil change. Motor oil serves many different functions in protecting the engine, the heart of your vehicle. Keeping your engine stocked with a fresh supply of quality motor oil can lubricate, cool, and clean your engine’s components and prevent damage down the line.
Tire Care
Trust your owner’s manual to tell you how often to rotate your tires and when to have the alignment checked. These are quick fixes that can prolong the life of your tires and help ensure your safety on the road.
Parts Replacements
Your vehicle will occasionally need new brake pads, tires, and other parts. And it’s much better to get these parts replaced in a timely manner, before they’re so worn out that they put you and your passengers in danger. Inspections – either on your own or at a service center – will help you keep an eye out for parts that are getting past their prime so you can take care of them on your timetable.
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Schedule Service at Walt Massey CDJR
Trust the team of automotive pros at Walt Massey CDJR to get your vehicle all caught up with the maintenance, repairs, and parts replacements it needs to continue to operate at its best and safest. You can schedule an appointment online for your convenience, and then let us take care of the rest.
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