4 Vehicle Maintenance Items You Shouldn’t Skip

When life gets busy, it’s far too easy to let car maintenance items slide. What’s a few extra hundred miles past an oil change, anyway? But when life doesn’t slow down and that few hundred turns into a thousand or more, you’re in real trouble. Oil changes aren’t the only maintenance items that should get done on schedule. Here are four additional things you should never skip—or even delay—no matter how tempting.

Fluid Flushes

If your eyes glaze over at the mere mention of fluid flushes, it’s important that you know that they’re an important part of the car maintenance process. The fluids in your vehicle don’t last forever. And when they wear out, their ability to cool, clean, and lubricate each system’s parts decreases considerably.

So, if you want your vehicle to stay in great condition, fluid flushes are a must every once in a while. The ideal service interval for each system varies depending on your vehicle type, driving style, and other key factors. Chat with your trusted service advisor to create a care plan you can follow for the complete upkeep of your car.

Battery Checks

Do you enjoy being able to hear your engine start up at the first turn of the key? If your answer is a resounding yes, then make battery checks a top priority. As your automotive battery ages, it loses its ability to hold a charge. At first, your headlights might just seem a bit dim, but eventually, you’ll end up with a dead battery.

Your local auto repair shop can take the guesswork out of figuring out when your battery is reaching the end of its service life. You just have to come into the shop for an inspection from time to time to get the inside scoop. They’ll also do a little bit of maintenance, like cleaning off corrosion, to keep your car starting up as expected.

Tune-Ups

Your engine needs the perfect mix of air, spark, and fuel to complete the combustion process. If anything goes wrong in any of those areas, your engine may misfire, lose power, or not start up at all. You can stay ahead of those problems by simply completing your car’s tune-ups on schedule.

The tune-up process involves inspecting and replacing the parts that keep your engine running strong. This may include looking over belts and hoses, changing the spark plugs, and replacing the engine air filter. Your mechanic can also check your timing belt carefully to see if it’s due for replacement.

Tire Services

Your tires are the only point of contact between your car and the road. So, it’s best not to take any chances with their care. Your safety behind the wheel depends on getting regular tire services, like pressure checks, rotations, and wheel alignments. Those services also help improve fuel efficiency and traction in all weather conditions.

As your tires reach the end of their service life, plan to get them replaced with quality rubber. Your auto repair shop can help you find the best tires for your vehicle type, driving preferences, and budget. They can also complete the balancing, installation, and other services needed to enjoy your tires to the fullest.