The Importance of Preventative Vehicle Maintenance
By ignoring getting preventative maintenance on your vehicle by waiting too long in between services, you could end up with a bigger, more expensive problem than you started with. Oil left unchanged can lead to a total engine seizure. A slow leak in a brake line can send your vehicle driving out of control and putting you in danger.
Begin by checking your vehicle’s owner’s manual for preventative maintenance recommendations. Instead of jamming it into the glove box only to be forgotten, take a moment to read it through to learn a bit about your new car. This book will tell you when to change your vehicle’s oil, air filters and how much weight your vehicle can haul safely. Following the schedule for preventative maintenance in the book is a great start to keeping your vehicle performing at its best.
Preventative Maintenance Tips
- Keep on a schedule for inspections. Take the time about once a month to give your vehicle a front to back, top to bottom inspection. Look for anything that looks out of the ordinary, be sure to listen for any odd sounds and keep track of how well your car is performing.
- Make it a habit to regularly check and refill all the fluids in your vehicle. Fluid spots or puddles on your driveway or where you park your vehicle are a good indication that something is leaking. This can include oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and even windshield washer fluid.
- Regularly replace necessary filters or have your filters replaced professionally. Changing an oil filter can be a bit challenging job without some experience, but anyone should be able to change an air filter.
- Check your vehicle’s engine belts for any wear, nicks or damage. Also, ensure that the fan belt or serpentine belt is appropriately tight and does not squeal when the car is starting up or running.
Getting regular preventative maintenance services for your vehicle will help to keep you and your family safe, improve your car’s fuel efficiency and aid in increasing the overall lifespan of your vehicle. Call AAMCO Lee’s Summit today for all of the preventative maintenance services and auto repairs your vehicle requires. Stop in or make a convenient appointment today.
