Essential Vehicle Maintenance You Should Never Neglect

Simple answer: Regular vehicle maintenance keeps costly repairs away, protects the driver, and helps your car last longer. Examples of automotive care include oil changes, tire rotations, brake pad replacement, and fluid checks. Preventative maintenance services with a trusted auto repair shop like Accuracy Automotive keep your vehicle running smoothly for many years.

Vehicles are an investment, but owning one comes with great responsibility. Your car contains thousands of moving parts that all need to work together under high heat and pressure. Neglect your vehicle, and these parts will begin to wear down causing your car to lose performance, gas mileage, and possibly stop working unexpectedly. Routine maintenance is how you preserve your automotive investment and prevent thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs.

Vehicle owner’s manuals can be intimidating to say the least. When you open that book for the first time it can seem like there are way too many service miles between each procedure. Car maintenance seems like a full time job when you study that manual. But once you learn the basics of these Vehicle Maintenance Topics you will feel confident making informed decisions about your vehicle. Prevention is always better than having to react to a problem later on.

Keeping your car safe isn’t just beneficial for you and your wallet. Regular vehicle maintenance ensures your car is safe for you, your passengers, and everyone on the road.

Finding a trusted mechanic you can rely on takes the confusion out of car maintenance. At Accuracy Automotive we guide you through every step of the process and perform quality service to make sure we don’t miss anything. Learn what maintenance tasks you can never neglect and talk to your mechanic about what you need to keep your car performing at its best.

Why are oil changes the most important maintenance task of all?

regular oil changes

Oil is what keeps your engine running. Literally. Every moving part inside your engine is metal spinning against metal at high speeds. Oil provides a lubricant between these parts, preventing them from seizing up from the extreme friction in a matter of seconds.

However, as your engine heats up so does your oil. As oil breaks down from heat, it loses its lubrication properties and starts doing a poorer job protecting your engine.

Oil also travels through your engine catching dirt and metal shavings as it goes. While most of this debris gets filtered out, your oil and filter will become dirty over time. Running dirty oil through your engine shortens its lifespan, hurts your gas mileage, and can cause your engine to fail completely.

Checking your oil levels and changing your oil regularly prevents this. At Accuracy Automotive we only use the best oils and filters designed for your specific make and model of engine. Depending on your vehicle, you will typically need to change your oil every few thousand miles. The professionals at Accuracy Automotive will make sure your engine has what it needs to run smooth and strong.

How do regular tire services prolong the life of your car?

Your tires are your only contact point with the ground. They support the weight of your entire vehicle while transferring every motion to the road below. If your tires aren’t properly inflated your car doesn’t handle as well, stopping distance increases, and you put yourself at risk for an accident. Underinflated tires also cause your car to have higher rolling resistance which means lower gas mileage.

Not only is it important to keep your tires properly inflated, but you should be rotating your tires regularly as well. Because your front tires support the weight of your engine and do the majority of work during braking and steering, they wear down quicker than your rear tires. Rotating your tires helps redistribute tread wear by moving your tires to different positions on the vehicle.

Getting your tires rotated by a professional will save you money by maximizing the tire tread life. It also helps maintain even traction all around your tires which is essential for safely driving in the rain or snow. The experts at Accuracy Automotive will inspect your tire treads and ensure your tires are properly inflated during every rotation service.

When do you need to replace your brake pads and rotors?

Auto Brake Pad Replacement

Your brakes are what keep you safe on the road. Every time you press down on the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure forces small brake pads to squeeze against your rotors. This friction creates the stopping power you need to safely stop your vehicle.

Because there is so much friction every time you brake, your pads will begin to wear down with use. If your pads wear too far down, metal will begin to grind against your rotors. This not only causes your brakes to squeal, but it can score your rotors and force you to repair or replace the entire braking system.

Low brake pad depth is not only bad for your rotors, but it also affects your ability to slow down and stop. Worn brakes means you’ll have a harder time stopping your car and increase your risk for an accident.

If you hear a high-pitched squeal when you brake or your steering wheel begins to vibrate when you press the brakes, your braking system needs serviced. Come to Accuracy Automotive as soon as you think there may be an issue with your brakes. We’ll make sure any worn pads are replaced before they damage your rotors.

How do fluid levels affect your engine’s performance?

Engine oil is not the only fluid your car needs to stay healthy. Other fluids like engine coolant pass through your engine to help regulate extreme heat. Without proper coolant levels your car’s engine will overheat which can ruin the cylinder head and cause costly engine damage.

Similar to engine coolant, your vehicle’s transmission relies on transmission fluid to keep cool. Without new transmission fluid, you’ll experience harsh shifting, and your transmission can even seize up if left ignored.

Other than engine coolant and transmission fluid, your car depends on power steering fluid and brake fluid. Power steering help you turn that heavy steering wheel with ease, and brake fluid provides the necessary pressure to stop your car.

Checking your vehicle’s fluids and replacing them when they become dirty is essential to your vehicle’s longevity. The technicians at Accuracy Automotive perform thorough fluid checks during every service. They know how to recognize dirty fluids and replace them with the proper products recommended by your manufacturer.

Keep Your Car Maintained with Accuracy Automotive

brake repair

Being proactive with your vehicle maintenance is the best decision you can make as a driver. I know it’s tempting to skip that service appointment because you’re short on time. But doing so will only leave you stranded on the side of the road with a hefty repair bill. Learn what maintenance you can never neglect and your car will take care of you.

Allowing the knowledgeable experts at Accuracy Automotive to perform your vehicle maintenance allows you to relax. We strive to provide affordable, quality service for your specific make and model. Contact Accuracy Automotive today  by calling (801) 273-0664 to learn about our specials and schedule your next maintenance service.

FAQs

How often should I get my vehicle serviced?

This all depends on what make, model, and year vehicle you drive. Each manufacturer has different service intervals they recommend. Typically we recommend visiting Accuracy Automotive every six months or 5,000 miles.

What will happen if I neglect regular vehicle maintenance?

Your car will not last as long! If you skip your oil change your engine will have a harder time keeping itself lubricated and overheat. If you ignore your brakes you’ll have a harder time stopping your vehicle.

What sets Accuracy Automotive apart from your typical auto repair shop?

Accuracy Automotive has served the Fremont,NE area since 2008. We take pride in providing our customers with honest, detailed information about your vehicle. Our certified technicians use the latest automotive technology to properly diagnose your vehicle and eliminate guesswork.