Top 5 Maintenance Tips for Your Car

Posted on | 12 Nov 2018 By Anita Gaal

Automotive maintenance is not something that’s at the forefront of most people’s minds, often for understandable reasons. Either auto maintenance is too expensive, time-consuming, or inconvenient (or a combination of all three!). Though it seems like a hassle, if you stay on top of auto maintenance routines you’ll benefit greatly in the end. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance:

• Increases your car’s reliability
• Extends your car’s longevity
• Retains your car’s value
• Enhances your car’s performance
• Increases and maintains your safety (as well as other’s on the road)
• Saves you money in expensive repair bills
• Reduces the number of times you’ll encounter performance problems

Those are just some of the more salient reasons for remaining diligent with your car’s specified maintenance schedule, which can be found in your owner’s manual. It is also especially important to make sure you find an automotive shop that specializes in the specific type of car you drive, so that you can ensure you receive the highest quality of care and replacement parts.

In this article, we’ll go over five basic areas of your car that should be maintained consistently. This list is nowhere near exhaustive or conclusive, so it’s important to collaborate with an automotive professional and stick to a strict maintenance routine.

1. Engine Oil Maintenance

Most drivers underestimate the importance of their engine oil, which can be a grave mistake. Engine oil is the most essential fluid for your car’s ongoing performance, reliability, and longevity. Here are a few things you should do routinely:

• Inspect the oil
• Flush and change the oil
• Replace the oil filter

2. Air Filter Replacements

Your car’s air filter is what “filters” the air from the outside. This means that it’s removing toxins, debris, contaminants, pollen, and dust from the air entering the engine, which can build up over time. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can take a serious toll on your engine health and performance, and will eventually lead to significant issues. It is usually recommended that the air filter be at least inspected each time you have your engine oil changed, making it an easy, one-stop-shop deal.

3. Brake Servicing

Needless to say, your brakes are one of the most important aspects of your vehicle to maintain consistently, as they play a huge part in your ongoing safety on the road. Brake systems vary depending on the type of car you drive, so it’s important to consult with a specialist near you. Here are some components that may need servicing as time passes:

• Brake rotors
• Brake wheel cylinders
• Brake drums
• Brake calipers
• Brake pads
• Brake lines
• Brake hoses

4. Tire Health Servicing

Your car’s tires are what see the most road contact, and this causes them to wear rather quickly. Here are just a few elements that will affect how your tires wear over time:

• The weather where you live
• Frequent driving conditions (like heavy traffic, gravel areas, road imperfections, or dirt roads)
• Driving habits, such as frequent, sudden braking, burning out, or taking turns quickly
• The time of year – in the summer the tire material expands and can wear quicker
• Quality of the suspension system – issues with suspension components can lead to uneven tire wear

It’s best to stay on top of routine maintenance tasks such as:

• Wheel balancing
• Wheel alignments
• Tire rotations
• Tire replacements
• Tire repair (when damaged)
• Maintaining the tire pressure to desired level (recommended by manufacturer in owner’s manual)

5. Cooling System Checks and Maintenance

Your car’s cooling system is essential to keeping the engine temperature at the appropriate level, despite the temperature outside. There are many different cooling system components, but the core features are most important:

• The radiator
• Radiator cooling fans
• Water pump
• Head gaskets
• Intake manifold gaskets
• Bypass system components
• Thermostat
• Cooling fluid (antifreeze)

How We Can Help You

The European import experts here at Euro Automotive provide ongoing, routine servicing and maintenance for a number of different vehicle brands, such as: Volvo, Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz. Rated the #1 European car service shop in the areas of Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX, we take pride in our work. If you’d like some help staying on top of your car’s maintenance schedule, please get in touch with one of our automotive experts to schedule an appointment today.