Hi there, my name is Nancy. Welcome to my site about automotive maintenance. My car has lasted for more than 10 years without any major problems due to the strict maintenance schedule I follow. Vehicle maintenance includes oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations, alignments and a host of other important services. These services protect the vehicle’s components from excessive wear and unexpected failure. I will use this site to explore all of the different maintenance procedures and schedules available. I hope you can use the information on my site to keep your vehicle in great shape over the years. Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Vehicles need preventative maintenance in order to stay in good working condition and continue getting you from point A to point B and back safely. Maintenance schedules will vary from vehicle to vehicle and from lifestyle to lifestyle, but most of the actual maintenance tasks are the same. Here are three mistakes that new and old car owners alike tend to make that can lead to problems with their vehicle:
Skipping Oil Changes
At one time, vehicles needed to undergo oil changes every 3,000 miles. This was standard. However, in today's day and age, with modern technological advancements, this is no longer the norm. In fact, some vehicles can go 15,000 miles before an oil change is truly necessary. This is good since it means you can save money and time that is usually spent on more frequent oil changes.
However, even with that being said, it doesn't mean that you should completely neglect your engine oil. While it is usually okay to allow your oil to go a few hundred miles over the recommended limit, unchanged oil will eventually accumulate dirt. As the filter gets clogged, it will be unable to keep the oil clean and the contaminants will remain in it, causing damage to the engine. Eventually this will cause catastrophic failure and lead to extensive repairs or a very costly replacement.
Ignoring the Check Engine Light
It is extremely easy to ignore that Check Engine light when it comes on. After all, when it comes on, more often than not the car is operating just fine. So, you figure that there is no immediate threat and you'll take care of it when you have the time. Unfortunately, life happens and you don't get around to dealing with that Check Engine light. Then, one day, your car unexpectedly breaks down. If you had seen a mechanic about that warning light, the breakdown could have easily been prevented. Plus, the longer that you wait to have it checked out, the more expensive the repairs will likely be.
Failing to Check the Air Pressure of Your Tires
When you glance at your tires, they usually look fine. As a result, most car owners don't give their tires a second thought, especially when it comes to the air pressure. However, as with many things, looks can be very deceiving. If your tires are low, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to have a blow out. Instead, it could cause you to get poor gas mileage, which means your checking account is going to be negatively affected. By having tires that are inflated per your manufacturer's recommendations, you are not only guaranteeing that your tires will last longer, but that you will save up to $0.05 per gallon in fuel.
For more help, contact a service like Covey's Auto.
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