Being Savvy With Car Maintenance 

Some auto maintenance tasks are critical to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly and lasts a long time. For example, getting oil changes every 5,000 miles, keeping the right amount of pressure in your tires, and changing your air filter occasionally are important. That said, there are plenty of car maintenance items that are a waste of your time and money.

The problem is that dealership service centers and local repair garages often give advice that is suspect. Much of what they say is to increase their sales rather than making sure your vehicle operates properly.

Because ongoing car maintenance is so important to the life of your vehicle, I’ll describe the tasks you should be doing as well as those which you can do without.

Mind Your Tires

Despite the myriad of parts under the hood, your tires on the only parts that actually contact the ground (hopefully). Check pressure of your tires every few weeks for maxium saftey and fuel effiency. Tires leak over time; they need to be filled. If they’re underinflated, the treads will wear down and you’ll end up replacing them far sooner than normal. Also, rotate them occasionally. The tires in the front of your vehicle wear down faster than those in the rear. Rotating them keeps the tread wear even.

Tune-Ups: Are They Necessary

If you’re driving a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, you probably don’t need a tune-up. The point of a tune-up is to adjust and recalibrate mechanical parts. These days, most of the parts (i.e. oxygen sensor, ignition switch, fuel injection system, etc.) are computer operated. As a result, there is very little to “tune up.”

Regular Oil Changes

Years ago, when engines were less sophisticated and motor oil was less advanced, a trip to the oil change shop every 3,000 miles was a good idea. However, that’s no longer the case. Today’s cars only need to have the oil changed every 5,000 miles.

Maintain Your Brakes

Every time you press down on your brake pedal, your brakes experience a little wear and tear. If you neglect them long enough, you’ll eventually hear a painful grinding sound as exposed metal rubs against other metal. Visit a repair shop as soon as you notice any problems. If you catch it early enough, you may only need to have the pads replaced. By the time you hear grinding, the rotor may be damaged and need to be replaced.

Change Your Air Filter

Your air filter has an important job: it needs to catch dirt and debris before it enters your car’s engine. It does its job diligently every time you're on the road. The problem is that it gets clogged with debris over time. When that happens, air flow becomes restricted which can affect your engine’s performance.

Check the air filter each time you change the oil. Dirty roads are a vacum of debris buildup for your car. They’re inexpensive, so they can be replaced without breaking the bank.

While the car runs smoothly today, all car parts eventually degrade and need replacement due to the wear and tear. Invest time on the auto maintenance tasks above to make sure your vehicle lasts as long as possible.