Preventative Maintenance is the regular upkeep of your vehicle that helps keep your car running smoothly. Avoiding regular maintenance can have long-term negative impacts on your car that might cause it to become undriveable. Manufacturers recognize the important of maintenance and how it will keep your car more reliable and help it last longer.

There are subtle and not-so-subtle signs that your car needs maintenance. Subtle signs include declining gas mileage or unusual sounds. Obvious signs include whenever a light on your dashboard comes on, including the check motor light or oil light. You can also consult the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule to see when you should provide maintenance.

The main issue that causes tire harm is bad tire pressure. Each tire should be set to a specific pressure to make sure tires stay safe. Check your manual to see what the desired pressure is for your tires.

Your tires should be rotated every other oil change or every 6,000 miles. It’s important to rotate your tires so that the wear is distributed evenly across the tires.

Yes. The crankshaft and timing belt are one of the main components that keep the car running, and failing to replace the timing belt can lead to expensive repairs. Don’t avoid the cost of replacing the timing belt, because it can lead to future costs down the road.

Numerous sensors and mechanized parts deal with your vehicle’s motor performance, so it’s important to take your car in when the motor light comes on. Even if the car seems to be running smoothly, there could be a significant damage that needs attention.

A hot car can permanently damage your motor, so if your car begins to overheat, pull over to the side of the road and turn it off. Let it cool down for a few minutes and take note of any damages. You can call a tow truck to get it towed to the near automobile services store for an official evaluation.

If motor oil is brown, it means that there is coolant in the oil. This can happen due to a blown head gasket, a bombed transmission cooler, or broken housings. This is a serious issue that should be looked at by a car repair shop immediately.

Battery links and terminals should be cleaned and examined periodically to ensure they are working properly. Your dealership or car repair shop can also perform a voltage test to see the electrical output of your battery. The obvious sign that a battery might need to be replaced is when your car won’t turn on, and generally it needs to be replaced every 1 – 2 years.