Maintenance Tips

Oil Service:  most cars need the oil changes around 3000-4000 miles, while todays oils do last longer they still get contaminated by other pollutants. Today’s engines have much tighter tolerances and smaller passage ways for oil to travel through in order to reach vital components. Keeping the oil changed at these intervals keeps your engine clean and the oil flowing where it is needed. Exceptions would include synthetic oils and vehicles with high capacity crankcases such as diesel trucks. When changing the oil and filter we do a complete safety inspection that includes all fluids, tire pressure, belts/hoses and overall visual inspection.

Transmission Service:  Most cars and trucks today are running high tech synthetic fluids with much longer lives than conventional fluid. However, they should still be regularly inspected and serviced according to the manufactures specifications.

Manual Transmission:  should have the fluid serviced regularly along with the differential approximately every 30,000 miles, except where special synthetic fluids are used. Consult your owners manual for fluid types and intervals.

Coolant Service:  Almost all coolant in use today is a “long life” type of coolant. While these coolants do last longer they still need to be changed according to the manufactures recommendation in order to maintain proper lubrication, cooling/anti-freeze and corrosion protection to the cooling system components. 

Brakes:  at each oil service is a good time to have your brakes checked, this is in order to keep you abreast of brake wear in order to prevent disc pads from wearing beyond a safe thickness and possibly ruining your brake rotor.

Drum brakes:  should be checked, replaced or cleaned and adjusted as necessary every time you replace your front disc pads. Note: most cars and trucks today have 4 wheel disc brakes.

Tune up:  most late model cars have a spark plug type such as platinum and iridium enabling them to not require service until approximately 100k miles. If your car has a traditional standard spark plug they should be checked or changed approximately every 30k miles. With a spark plug change the fuel filter should be changed if applicable and other ignition components inspected and changed as needed. Lastly, no good tune up is complete without cleaning the throttle plate to keep your car running it’s best.

Intake Cleaning:  this removes built up deposit in your cars air intake system as well as cleaning built up deposits on your intake valves that lower your fuel mileage and lessen your cars performance. Suggested cleanings for most cars is at approximately every 60k miles.

Timing Belt: many cars have a gear toothed belt that keeps the engine in time. Your owners manual will give you the proper interval to change the belt. At this time the water pump should be inspected and replaced as needed along with other timing components. Also the accessory drive belts should be changed at this time, doing so saves labor costs.

Timing Chain: most cars today have returned to using a timing chain since 2006. The life of the chain is directly affected by regular maintenance. Depending on your engine your vehicle may have multiple chains running up to 4 camshafts, balance shafts, oil pumps and other components. They do wear out and should be inspected at the first sign of any unusual noise in order to prevent costly damage due to chain failure. 

Tire Rotation:  for front wheel drive cars rotating your tires every 9-10,000 miles and rear wheel drive vehicles every 12-13,000 miles will help them to wear evenly throughout the life of the tire.