When to Schedule Your Auto Repair | Grapevine, TX

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If you own a vehicle it’s important that you are taking care of the general maintenance to make sure that it’s going to keep running the way you expect. You want to make sure you’re following each of these tips and also be careful about sticking to a schedule.

OIL CHANGE

Oil changes are intended to be done every 3,000 to 7,000 miles, depending on the specific vehicle that you’re driving. You want to make sure that you’re getting the oil changed according to the schedule in your vehicle’s maintenance manual because that’s how you’re going to keep the warranties that the manufacturer provides. Oil changes generally include a quick evaluation of the rest of your vehicle and make sure that you don’t have any other problems going on. Timely oil changes in Grapevine, TX keep you from needing additional auto repair.

TIRE ROTATION

Tire rotations mean that your tires are moved from one spot to the next. So, the tire at the front on the passenger side may be moved to the rear driver side, as an example. Each of the tires will be put in a different spot because the different positions are going to wear in different ways and you want to make sure that you’re moving tires around so none of them wear too quickly, which can cause damage that requires additional auto repair. This should be done approximately every 6 months or after you’ve gone between 6,000 and 8,000 miles.

CHECK FLUIDS

There are all kinds of fluids in your vehicle, and that means even more things that you need to be looking at. You want to check fluids in your vehicle regularly so you can make sure there’s enough of each of them. Low fluids could cause damage to your vehicle in a number of different ways, including extensive damage to the engine and transmission. These are not just regular repair needs, but extensive and expensive ones. Fluids like transmission, coolant and power steering should be checked every 3,000 miles.

BATTERY REPLACEMENT

The battery is part of what’s keeping your car running and unlike the transmission and the engine it doesn’t continue running forever. It actually needs to be replaced or at least looked at closer every 35,000 miles. If there’s a problem it can be replaced relatively easily. This is a more extensive auto repair than some, but it’s going to be less problematic than replacing a transmission or an engine, for example. You can get improvements to the quality of your driving by replacing your battery as well, but you want a professional to take a look and show you when it needs to be done.

AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT

Every 15,000 miles you should be replacing the air filter in your vehicle. The air filter is going to absorb a whole lot of dirt, debris and dust and all of that eventually clogs up the filter. When that happens you’re not going to be able to clean the air that’s flowing through your vehicle. And that air can make you sick and it can cause damage to your vehicle. That’s because the dirt and debris that would normally be sucked up by the filter is being allowed to flow through the engine compartment instead, which could clog the engine, resulting in even more serious auto repair needs.

SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT

The spark plugs are another important component of your vehicle and they need to be replaced approximately every 40,000 miles. These spark plugs are going to keep your vehicle running and if they die, or even if a couple of them die, it causes your vehicle to work harder to try and run. This can cause too much strain on the vehicle and you end up with more serious problems. But spark plugs are super easy to replace, so there’s no reason to deal with those problems at all.

CHECK BRAKE PADS

You should be checking the brake pads every 30,000 miles and you should be replacing them every 60,000 miles or if they start to wear out. It’s entirely possible that the brake pads on your vehicle could last slightly less or slightly longer than 60,000 miles. Talk with your mechanic to find out how your brake pads are doing and also how the brake fluid is doing. All of these things can prevent serious auto repair and can also help prevent some accidents as well. Your vehicle in Grapevine, TX needs the best care possible.

EVALUATE SUSPENSION

You should be looking closely at the suspension at least every 35,000 miles and then again every 10,000 to 15,000 miles after that. This makes sure that the suspension is going to keep working properly and that your vehicle is going to continue to function properly. Suspension is what keeps your vehicle going down the road more smoothly, without suffering damage from bumps and different elevations. Check out the suspension routinely and you shouldn’t need too much auto repair for your vehicle in Grapevine, TX.

When it comes to routine maintenance you want to make sure that you’re looking at the best possible schedule for your vehicle. You want to avoid auto repair as much as possible and by taking care of each of these things and speaking with a mechanic or auto technician frequently you’re going to have a better chance of that. After all, you’re going to have a professional taking a close look at your vehicle routinely. This ensures that you’re better prepared for anything that needs to be done with your vehicle. It also means that you’re going to have less need for auto repair.

Check fluids at least once a month on your own (this is an easy task you can learn about from your mechanic). Also, make sure you’re checking for leaks or any strange sounds or changes to your vehicle. You may be able to recognize a problem before it becomes major and before you need serious auto repair in Grapevine, TX.

Contact the experts at Import Car Center today!