Monthly Car Maintenance Can Help Keep Auto Repairs Down

2. TABLE OF CONTENT

3. INTRODUCTION If auto repair stats are anything to go by, the American society desperately needs help. Take a look at this: AAA recently released a report claiming that the average auto repair bill stands at a whopping $500 - $600! What is even more shocking is that 1 in 3 motorists often get into debt to take care of this bill. This rather unfortunate study is essentially a depiction of the situation worldwide. While auto repair is unpredictable for the most part, there is so much one can do to bring it down to a manageable level. The most efficient strategy is simply regular vehicle maintenance. There’s no way around this. Granted, most car owners are often aware of the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance but unfortunately, only a handful actually gets around to doing it. A good chunk of these individuals totally neglect this tried-and-proven principle but others procrastinate long enough to send the repair costs flying over the roof. Look at it this way; the car is like your body. If you don’t visit the doctor for regular check-ups, you might have to pay a hefty price to treat a condition in the future that would have otherwise been caught in the bud through during the check-ups.

4. Granted, most car owners are often aware of the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance but unfortunately, only a handful actually gets around to doing it. A good chunk of these individuals totally neglect this tried-and-proven principle but others procrastinate long enough to send the repair costs flying over the roof. Look at it this way; the car is like your body. If you don’t visit the doctor for regular check-ups, you might have to pay a hefty price to treat a condition in the future that would have otherwise been caught in the bud through during the check-ups. Monthly car maintenance will not only keep your bank account fat but will keep your car happy and healthy as well. A happy and healthy car translates to a happy car owner ultimately a better economic society at large. What exactly does monthly maintenance entail? Follow through as we dig deeper into the topic of regular vehicle maintenance and just how it can save you huge repair costs.

5. CHANGE YOUR OIL Oil change is probably the monthly maintenance ritual in all auto shops across the world. Your vehicle’s engine has many moving parts. These rub against each other as you drive your car around; it’s all part of proper engine functioning. Rubbing creates friction which can cause the motor to overheat. Overheating of the motor is a sure recipe for engine trouble which is why oil is utilized to lubricate the moving parts and in the end avoid this. However, as time goes by, the engine oil wears out leading to major engine problems that are quite costly to repair. To prevent this from happening, fresh oil needs to be replaced the minute the old one breaks down. To be on the safe side, you need to stay ahead of the game on this one. Anticipate the need for an engine oil change before it actually happens. You can only achieve this through regular car maintenance. The duration between oil changes depends on a number of factors including your location, age of your engine and your mode of driving. Many mechanic experts advise changing the oil after every 3,000 miles although their counterparts, automobile manufacturers, suggest up to 5,000 miles. You can actually go up to 10,000 miles without changing the oil if you use the special synthetic type. The bottom line is, a change of oil is a vital car maintenance component.

6. CLEAN THE BATTERY Back in the day, car batteries required frequent maintenance but technology has seen the introduction of low-maintenance types that have superior characteristics and last for ages. It is nonetheless a good idea to check for leaking and problems with mineral build- up on the contacts. If you do come across any of these, clean them off using a quality battery cleaning brush. Don’t stop there; take a step further and purchase an extra brush for future use. Don’t forget to get an affordable jump starter of battery tester for that unfortunate day when the battery will die without your knowledge.

7. MAINTAIN YOUR WHEELS AND TIRES Your tires play a vital role in your car’s proper functioning. They offer a barrier between you and the highway. Tires affect safety, ride, handling, and braking of the vehicle. For effective performance, the tires must have the right tread depth, correct air pressure, and wheel balance. Tires should be maintained on a monthly basis to prolong their longevity and avoid repair and replacement costs of the same. If you have had to replace a tire before, you know this is anything but a cheap affair. Tire maintenance includes these three key components: Tire balancing: Imbalanced tires shorten their lifespan and cause uneven wear. Balancing is done by attaching small weights to the tire to reduce vibration of both the wheels and the tire itself during high speeds. Tire balancing is done immediately after the installation of a new tire, after a puncture or repair or whenever vibration is experienced. 

8. Tire rotation: Tire rotation also helps elongate the longevity of tires by limiting uneven wear. Rotation differs for different vehicles but on average, tires should be rotated between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. Refer to the car’s manual for the right mileage for your ride. Wheel alignment: Wheel alignment is simply the process of maintaining the required position of the wheels to avoid uneven wear and vibrations when the car is speeding. Every car has unique wheel alignment settings. When the position goes out of range, vehicle handling becomes compromised not to mention increased fuel mileage. You know your wheels are properly aligned when the vehicle stays on a straight line without pulling on either side. This pulling can be caused by a whole array of other car problems which is why you should visit your mechanic every month to check if your tire and your entire vehicle is in perfect condition.  

9. CHECK YOUR WIPER BLADES This seems petty but a good number of guys have in the past ignored the importance of maintaining their wipes and ended up replacing them all together as part of a bigger job. Why fall victim to this when you can do a quick check-up of the wipes for a minute or so each month? The job requires very little or no skill at all. If you are too scared to in blind, resort to using your vehicle’s manual. While you are at it, you might want to clean both the inside and outside of the windshield for better visibility. If you are looking to travel to a wet and snowy destination, you might want to replace your blades altogether to prevent any accident from happening

10. REPLACE THE CABIN AIR FILTER Again regular cabin air filter checkup is often over looked by many car owners but it can substantially save you some auto repair costs in the future. The cabin air filter is what keeps the air inside your car’s cabin clean. It essentially filters the air coming through the vehicle’s AC system to prevent pollen, dust, mold spores, smog, and other dust particles from entering the vehicle. Apart from enhancing air quality, a cabin air filter goes a long way in reducing repair costs of the vehicle. Dirty air causes the AC system to work harder. This can burn the motor and cause a string of other engine problems along with it. Cabin air filter replacement should be done yearly or after every 15,000 – 25,000 miles. Like wiper blades, this is a DIY job but if you want experts to handle it, be ready to cough out anything between $15 and $25.

11. REPLACE THE ENGINE AIR FILTER The cabin air filter isn’t the only filter that requires tender love and care; the engine air filter does too. One gallon of fuel requires 10,000 gallons of air for proper combustion which is why clean air is a vital element for good engine functioning. The benefits of cleaning the filter include improved acceleration, reduced emissions, increased engine life, better gas mileage, and overall enhanced driveability. Each monthly car maintenance routine should include a check into the situation of the engine air filter. If it has accumulated dirt, have it replaced. If you drive all day long in high traffic areas or have a long commute, your filter may attract dirt at a quicker pace than if you drove on the open road during the weekend only.

12. CHECK YOUR LIGHTS Many car owners suddenly discover the need for a headlight change when they realize the road has become unclear or when the bulb has gone kaput in the middle of the highway. A blurred vision of the road is a recipe for disaster. If you manage to avoid an accident, you won’t get too far before the authorities flash a ticket on your face. Car lights are often replaced in pairs. This is because when one becomes dim or burns out completely, the other one is always right behind. For a consistent clear vision of the road ahead, you might want to replace all four car lights with brighter and more visible xenon or LED bulbs. It may dig a hole in your pocket now but you will save yourself from frequent replacement costs or worse, deadly accidents in the future.

13. CHECK YOUR SPARK PLUGS Spark plugs on average can go up to 100,000 miles before begging for a replacement but by this time, the plugs will have worn out by 80%. Furthermore, when spark plugs stay in a fixed placed for this long, they tend to seize the head of the cylinder. Their design can also cause breakage and with it, reduced engine performance. If you don’t replace worn out and broken spark plugs, you are looking at huge fuel bills and a myriad of other engine problems. You want to have them checked after every 30,000 miles and replaced after 80,000 miles. When doing any replacements, it is prudent to use the original spark plugs that came with the vehicle to avoid any compatibility issues. If the car had been equipped with spark plug wires, your mechanic might need to check these at the time of replacement as well. Old and crispy wires can come apart during replacement of spark plugs which is not exactly, the best news for any car owner.

14. CHECK SERPENTINE AND TIMING BELTS Serpentine and timing belts can spell disaster if they broke down in the middle of the road. The timing belt is responsible for controlling the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft. It also directs the opening and closing the valves located in the engine to allow a free flow of air in and out of the car. Basically, it coordinates most of the engine’s functions. Proper functioning of the timing belts dictates that the valves must open and close at the appropriate time. They have to also be in the right position to do this. If there is any breakage in the belt, it will cause the valves to have different opening times for each cylinder eventually causing deadly damage. A serpentine belt, on the other hand, is a single, continuous belt that powers key components including power steering, alternator, air conditioning, and water pump. With the introduction of the rubber technology, serpentine belts now last longer (between 50,000 and 100,000 miles). Continuous exposure to friction and heat causes the serpentine belt to wear out. When this happens, replacement should be done.

15. Like all car problems, serpentine and timing belts should be replaced before danger strikes. If they break down, they will damage other car accessories along with them causing the cost of repair to go higher.

16. CHECK YOUR FLUIDS The last bit of monthly car maintenance includes checking all your fluids. These include the coolant, power steering, antifreeze and wiper fluids, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and many more. The process is simple which is why you shouldn’t give money to anyone to do this for you. Checking the levels differs for different tanks. There are those that have clear cylinders where the level is visible but a good number of them have dipsticks or gauges. If you are looking for auto repair mechanics to take care of repair, maintenance, and replacement of your tires, your search has come to an end. Autobahn Tires know everything there is to know about auto repairs and maintenance. From oil change to performing routine maintenance, the firm will do everything to get you back on the road quickly. Part of their service portfolio includes wheel services, tire repair, tire services, winter tires, and all-season tires. They understand the sentimental value people place on their vehicles which is why they stock luxury brands guaranteed to satisfy each customer.

17. FIND OUT MORE Read more at - https://autobahntires.ca/auto-maintenance-repairs/