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Cars cost a lot of money, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking good care of yours. However, keeping a car in good shape year after year also requires a lot of work. If you want to minimize the amount you spend on costly auto repairs and keep your car running smoothly at all times, the best thing you can do is create a regular maintenance schedule with a mechanic. Fortunately, we have all the info you need to know about taking your car in to a Grapevine, TX, mechanic for regular maintenance.

OIL CHANGES

The oil in your engine is responsible for providing lubrication to critical moving components of the engine, which is why changing your oil is so important. Over time, the oil in your engine tends to get dirty and lose its lubricating properties.

As far as how often you should change your oil, you should consult with your owner’s manual or an auto repair shop. While conventional oil needs to be changed fairly often, vehicles that use semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil can go a little longer between oil changes.

Another important thing to remember when you get your oil changed is that you also need to have the filter changed. Your oil filter is responsible for removing dirt and debris from oil to keep it functional for longer. You should have your oil filter changed every time you visit an auto repair shop for an oil change.

OTHER FLUIDS

While oil is the most common fluid to change in a vehicle, it’s far from the only thing you need to worry about. There are tons of different fluids in your vehicle that perform important roles, so you need to have them all checked on and changed by an auto repair expert every once in a while.

The transmission fluid in your automatic transmission doesn’t need to be changed too often, but it does keep your transmission running. You should have your transmission fluid checked and changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.

Brake fluid is another one you don’t have to change too often, but it’s hugely important. Brake fluid is what gives your vehicle stopping power, and a lack of brake fluid means a guaranteed trip to an auto repair shop. You should have somebody check the brake fluid and change it about every 3 years or 45,000 miles.

TIRES

Safety should always be a top priority for drivers, which is why taking care of the parts of your vehicle that affect your safety is so important. Your tires aren’t just responsible for allowing your vehicle to roll along, they’re also hugely important when it comes to things like traction and handling.

Since your tires are made of rubber, they tend to wear down over time due to friction with the road. This may not be a huge problem at first, but worn-out tires can cause various safety hazards as they near the end of their life. While you should look at the manufacturer’s recommendation for how often to change your tires, you should change yours at least once every 50,000 miles.

Keep in mind that tires come in all sorts of different styles and sizes. If you want tires that offer a quiet ride or superior traction in all weather, a professional can help you choose the right tires.

ALIGNMENT & ROTATION

Speaking of tire wear, some of the most important maintenance you can have done on your vehicle is designed to prevent it. Every once in a while, you should take your car to an auto repair shop to have them align your vehicle and rotate your tires.

Alignment involves adjusting your vehicle’s suspension to make sure all four tires are making even contact with the road. For starters, this ensures all four tires wear at the same rate to prevent premature replacement. Having all your tires making even contact with the road also provides you with better traction and handling while you drive, which is a huge benefit in terms of safety.

Tire rotation is also designed to prevent your tires from wearing unevenly. This simple maintenance task involves strategically rotating tires to a different spot so they don’t wear down more significantly in some spots than others. By moving a left wheel to the right side, an auto repair shop can balance out the wear on your tires to ensure they last for as long as possible.

BRAKES

The tough part about taking your vehicle to a Grapevine, TX, shop for maintenance is that it’s hard to know when your car needs work. As far as your brakes go, you should have an expert check on them regularly and replace your brake pads about every 50,000 miles regardless of how well they seem to be working.

Your brakes are perhaps the most important safety feature of your vehicle. When your brake pads start to wear down, your brake system loses stopping power. In some cases, problems with other parts of the brake system could mean you have to replace more than just the pads.

As we mentioned before, it’s also important to make sure you have good brake fluid. To prevent worn-out brake pads, warped rotors or a lack of brake fluid, you should have your brakes inspected every time you visit an auto repair shop for routine maintenance.

THE BEST WAY

Taking care of your vehicle is serious business, especially if you value safety on the road. From having somebody take a look at your vehicle to having fluids and important parts replaced, you can never be too careful.

If you’re looking for an auto repair shop to help you take care of your ride, Import Car Center is here to help. We can work on everything from a Volkswagen to a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. If you need a little help keeping your car in pristine condition, call us today at (817) 481-5665.

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