Preventative Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance for your Vehicle

Preventive maintenance text concept write on notebook with pen

You can’t deny that the automobile is one of the most expensive purchases you have during your lifetime. So, to protect your investment by making sure that your vehicle has the longest lifespan possible, it’s important to get your car inspected from time to time. In addition, to ensure your car’s dependability, some preventative maintenance needs to be addressed and inspected to keep your vehicle’s warranty intact.

What is Preventive Maintenance?

Preventive Maintenance refers to the protection of your vehicle against any kind of potential auto repairs. Basics of preventative Maintenance checklist include checking your tire pressure, changing the oil, tire rotations, topping off fluids, changing the brakes, coolant replacement, etc. These services done for your car is just like getting regular checkups at the doctor as it prolongs your car lifespan, boosts efficiency, and leverages asset management.

How do you know if your car needs Preventive Maintenance?

Every vehicle needs preventative maintenance on a regular basis. Having scheduled maintenance on your vehicle will catch early warning signs of malfunctions that could cause costly breakdowns later on. Some warning signs include:

1. Leaning Steering – If you loosen the grip on the steering for a few seconds and your car leans in one direction over the other, it means the wheels of your vehicle are out of alignment and thus not good for the fuel economy and extended wear on your vehicle.
2. Poor braking performance – Brakes are one of the most crucial parts of any vehicle, preventative maintenance allows you to catch wearing components before it’s too late and your brakes fail.
3. Decreased fuel mileage – Drop in the fuel mileage can be because of many factors; some can be big or some pretty small. So, no matter the issue, it would be wise to take your vehicle it for an inspection.
4. Unusual noises – If your car makes some clanging or weird ticking noises during your drive, it is a clue that something may be off in your car. The clunking and squealing noises could indicate that something is loose or there are low fluid levels in your vehicle.
5. Unexpected car stalling – If you notice that when you press your foot to accelerate and your car struggles for a few seconds before starting to move, then it is a sign of stalling. The reason for this could be because of a clogged oil filter or bad spark plugs. Preventative maintenance would catch these minor issues.
6. The warning light is on – If the warning lights illuminate, there is an issue with one or more of your car systems. A yellow engine light indicates the misfire in the engine. In this case, take your car to the mechanic immediately before it gets worse and cause unplanned downtime.

Why is Preventive Car maintenance important?

A preventative maintenance schedule prevents minor to severe problems with your vehicle. Some benefits of why proper preventive vehicle maintenance is important and doing it regularly is essential for you are –

1. Improve gas mileage – Preventive maintenance such as an oil change, tire rotation, etc., improves your vehicle’s gas mileage. If you fail to have such replacements, your gas tank fills more often, which as a result, eats up both your time and money.
2. Prevent car breakdowns – If preventive maintenance services are regularly maintained in your car, it helps prevent a larger car breakdown.
3. Save time and effort – As time and energy are vital resources, you will be saving your time and effort by staying on the preventive maintenance schedule.
4. Saves money – Regular preventive maintenance doesn’t cost as much compared to replacing damaged parts that can be expensive. Keeping on top of maintenance has prolonged cost savings. Less big breakdowns means more money in your wallet.
5. Longevity of car – Your car can also stay healthy if you provide it proper maintenance. By having preventive maintenance, you can get your car’s value to the fullest.
6. Keep others driver safe – If your car malfunctions on the road, it will also affect other cars as you may hit other vehicles and thus injure other drivers or passengers. So, it also helps in maintaining your role as a responsible citizen.
7. Provides peace of mind – There is nothing more peaceful than knowing your car is safe. When your automobile receives preventative maintenance, you can drive your car with full confidence and security.

Preventive Maintenance Checklist –

Be sure you go through this Preventive maintenance checklist or a similar checklist every few months. It is always recommended to check your owner’s manual to determine specific factory scheduled maintenance for your vehicle.  The list includes:

1.   Air filter

Your air filter regulates the air that flows into your engine. It helps to keep out debris and particles. By making sure that your air filter is working properly, you can improve your fuel efficiency and help extend the life of your engine.

2.   Oil and filter

The motor oil in your vehicle’s engine serves many functions. It lubricates the moving parts and helps act as a sealant against debris. It not only cools the engine but reduces wear and tear, and helps prevent engine corrosion. Keeping it clean and safe is important for good engine health. Depending on what kind of oil you’re using for your car, you may need to change both the oil & oil filter.

3.   Rotate tires

Depending on your vehicle alignment, usage, and many other factors, the tread wear patterns on your tires may vary between both or even from one side of the tread to the other. Rotating the tires of your vehicle help to extend the service life of your tires by more evenly balancing the tread wear. It also helps in preventing noise and vibration problems.

4.   Transmission fluid

Transmission fluid is a long term checkup. Much like engine oil, transmission fluid is also a lubricant that helps keep all of the moving parts inside your vehicle’s transmission functioning properly. So, whether you’re driving an automatic or a manual transmission vehicle, you must have your transmission fluid checked and changed when needed.

5.   Spark plugs

The spark plugs in your engine ignite the gas and air mixture, and as a result, it powers your vehicle. If your spark plugs not functioning properly, your vehicle’s engine will lose its power and won’t run at maximum capacity. So, it’s important to have a professional checkup and replace any faulty spark plugs depending on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.

6.   Serpentine belt

Although it seems like a simple piece of rubber, a serpentine belt is an essential part of keeping your car running. It powers your vehicle’s devices such as your alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioner compressor. So, it is important to visually inspect the belt to make sure that it is free of cracks or other wear and tear. Then, make sure to replace it if damaged or according to your vehicle manufacture’s recommendation.

7.   Coolant fluid exchange

The radiator in your car is an important component that helps keep your engine cool and functioning properly. If you flushed the coolant system regularly, it would help eliminate contaminants that can build up inside. Checking your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation is important to find out how often your coolant should be changed.

There is a long list of items that are considered to be preventative maintenance measures. They may not seem like big things, but if put off for long lengths of time, they can result in some hefty vehicle repair bills.

Reach out to our experts at TIRECRAFT or check your vehicle owner’s manual for a preventative maintenance program.