Although the California weather might not be frightful this holiday season, you can still receive the gift that keeps on giving for Christmas. Regular auto maintenance gives you better gas mileage by giving your engine the freshest possible oil (oil changes at All Around Auto Repair use top synthetic oils that remove gunk), rotating and topping off your tires, and giving your vehicle a proper tuneup. The holidays are a great time to get routine maintenance on your car, van, or truck.
All Around Auto Repair’s technicians check off all of the little things that can make a big difference: hoses, struts, shocks, belts, and filters will all be inspected and potentially replaced.
You’ll pull away from your tuneup knowing that you’ve done everything you can to protect your investment and improve your vehicle’s resale value. A vehicle that receives regular auto maintenance performs better, drives safer, and stays on the road longer.
Auto maintenance is a great gift to your vehicle. But how often do you need it? Though each vehicle is different and you should always follow your owner’s manual, below are general guidelines to follow.
Oil Change – Every 3,000 to 5,000 Miles
The fact that something as simple as taking your vehicle in for an oil change can have so many benefits is a little staggering.
A cleaner engine with fewer emissions, better gas mileage, and a longer lasting vehicle are just a few of amazing benefits that you can expect from taking your vehicle in for an oil change about every 3,000 miles.
The reason that an oil change is one of the more frequent pit stops in the auto maintenance world is that old engine oil that’s been pumping for a few thousand miles can collect gunk and let your engine get hotter because of worse lubrication over time.
Full Tune Up: Essential Auto Maintenance
If an oil change is a stocking stuffer, then a full tuneup is one of the bigger gifts under the tree. This kind of auto maintenance leaves no stone unturned. How often should you get a full workup? About every 30,000 miles, according to auto-care experts.
The mechanics at All Around Auto Repair will check all of your hoses, belts, and fluids. That includes checking, cleaning and/or replacing air filters and fuel filters as well as possibly replacing your spark plugs.
In the same way that an oil change is set at every 3,000 miles because that’s how often oil tends to last, parts like your hoses and air filters need to be replaced when they wear out.
Your air filter needs to be clean to get good performance out of your engine. If your filter gets too dirty then your engine’s air/fuel mix will get too “rich” and the end result could be engine failure.
Shocks, Struts, and Timing Belts – 50,000 to 60,000 Miles
Some signs that you might really want to consider new shocks or struts for the holidays would be a vehicle that divebombs towards the front when braking or one that squats in the rear when you punch the accelerator.
At your 50,000-mile pit stop, though, trained mechanics will look for leaks in the housing or dents in the strut body or rubber mounting.
Battery and Transmission: 80,000 to 100,000
Although a car battery can last for six years or more, you should expect a new battery about every two to five years, say the experts. Your engine and transmission also needs to be looked at around every 80,000 miles. So, beat the holiday rush and get your vehicle ready for a new year of driving!
