Keep It Up: Performing Scheduled Maintenance for Long Vehicle Life.

Keep It Up: Performing Scheduled Maintenance for Long Vehicle Life

Every vehicle comes with a factory scheduled maintenance regimen. Starting with the first mile, the plan gives guidance on how to best care for your car and keep it in peak operating condition. We’ve all seen the pages and pages of charts and notes in the back of the owner’s manual. What exactly is in those schedules and what benefit do they really have?

Keep it Regular

Just about everything benefits from regular service and a car is no exception. Parts need to be lubricated, fluids need to be changed and kept full, filters get dirty and other parts wear out with normal use and at different rates. Most vehicles give service intervals in miles with some items addressed by time. Oil changes are the most well-known example, with the 3,000 mile service being the standard. As oil technology has developed the mileage interval has extended much farther but the need for regular, preventive service remains. Not performing this most basic task can ultimately lead to catastrophic damage, even to new cars.

Keep it On Time

When the service reminder comes on it’s best to have maintenance done as soon as possible. Many vehicles will give a countdown to give you time to plan ahead and schedule service. Oils and other fluids, as an example, are meant to last for a certain interval and, by the end of their useful life, offer less protection than they do when they’re fresh. Oils and fluids contain additives that break down. Dirt, debris and moisture can enter and contaminate the fluid. Running for miles beyond the service interval will lead to excessive wear and tear and the components that depend on these fluids.

Keep Informed

The most basic vehicle service is an oil change and tire rotation. Beyond changing the oil and topping off fluids, this critical service gives us time to inspect the vehicle both under the hood and under the car. This is a good time to spot a small leak before it becomes a large puddle in your driveway. We can measure wear items like brakes and tire tread to let you know when to expect repairs. Filters, belts and hoses are also inspected for wear.

Sometimes You Need Less

There are times in a vehicle’s life where an oil change and basic check-over are all the maintenance that is required. If done regularly, this will form the foundation for a long and dependable life of service from your car.

Sometimes You Need More

There are mileages that call for more extensive service beyond an oil change. The most common intervals are 60,000 and 100,000 miles for factory scheduled maintenance. These vary by vehicle but often call for changing fluids like coolant, transmission fluid, brake and power steering fluids. Transfer case and differential fluids may be called for on a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Spark plugs and the timing belt are the most involved and most expensive maintenance items. Often due around the 100,000-mile mark, these services are absolutely necessary to keep your car running well or even running at all. While a timing belt replacement will cost hundreds of dollars, a neglected timing belt can fail and cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Whether you need more or need less, keeping the service intervals in mind and bringing your car in for basic maintenance means that we can communicate with you on what will be coming up and you can plan for the related costs. In other words, if your car is well maintained, you shouldn’t be caught with any major surprises as you can budget and plan for the more expensive visits.

Is it Worth the Cost?

Absolutely! For a new vehicle owner a service record is vital to keeping the warranty valid. Should a problem arise the dealer will ask for proof that required maintenance has been done. The service does not have to be done at a dealer but it does need to be done and receipts should be kept as proof.

Even after the warranty period, regular maintenance pays off with lower costs of ownership as well as lower stress and less aggravation from a reliable, dependable car. Making an appointment for maintenance on your schedule is better than calling a tow truck from the side of the road!

How Can We Help You?

We are firm believers in regular service, maintaining a vehicle and planning ahead for future needs. If your car is new, we can start it down the road to a long and happy life. If your car has seen some miles, we’ll keep it going. If your car is overdue for some care, we can help you love your car again. Choose BBack Car Care for to handle your factory scheduled maintenance.

Ready to schedule your appointment? Request an appointment online or call our service desk today to get started.