Ultimately, it’s only natural for vehicle owners to want to reduce costs associated with their cars. One of the most effective strategies many car owners consider for cutting costs is preventive auto repair service.
As you continue driving your car, issues are bound to arise. Without preventive maintenance, it may become unusable sooner than expected, potentially leaving you stranded or, worse, involved in an accident.
Consider this simple fact: On average, replacing your vehicle’s brake pads costs between $100 and $300 per axle. However, experiencing an unexpected complete brake failure could lead to losing control of your vehicle, resulting in fatal accidents.
Therefore, acquiring preventive auto repair services is essential for both safety and cost-effectiveness. It’s straightforward: preventative auto repair servicing can save you a lot of money and, more importantly, save lives too!
What You Need to Know About Preventive Auto Repair
Your car comprises several parts, all working together to ensure proper functioning. As an owner, it’s crucial to pay attention to your vehicle and maintain its various components.
You might believe that skipping regular vehicle maintenance can save you money, but it’s actually the opposite. The savings from neglecting preventive auto repair services pale in comparison to the cost of breakdown auto repair.
Sudden auto breakdowns not only cause inconvenience but can also lead to fatal accidents. Moreover, it’s not just about the cost and inconvenience; consider that driving a deteriorating vehicle, unaware of its condition, puts your life and others at risk. Additionally, neglecting preventive maintenance will inevitably lead to the need for car replacement, which can be far more expensive than regular upkeep.
What Is Preventive Auto Repair Service?
Preventive auto repair and maintenance, also known as planned repair and maintenance, is a proactive approach to ensuring that your vehicle operates efficiently at all times.
Similar to scheduling regular health check-ups, where most people opt for medical check-ups annually or every few years rather than waiting for symptoms of illness to appear, preventive auto repair aims to address potential issues before they escalate.
Services typically included in auto maintenance encompass engine tuning, minor adjustments, brake inspection, suspension check-ups, light, exhaust, and tire inspections, as well as fluid and lubrication changes such as transmission fluid, oil, and coolant. Scheduling auto maintenance at your convenience can help minimize costs.
What are the Benefits of Preventive Auto Repair & Maintenance?
So, how crucial is preventive auto repair & maintenance? Here are some reasons why it is vital for your vehicle.
Extend Your Vehicle’s Lifespan
Routine preventative maintenance can increase your vehicle’s lifespan, ensuring it provides optimal value for your money over time.
Regularly inspecting your vehicle, addressing minor issues, changing oil and transmission fluid regularly, and checking fluids are just some ways to keep your car running smoothly and safely for an extended period.
Increased Fuel Efficiency
Several factors influence fuel efficiency, and constantly refueling your vehicle can be costly. Low compression, engine misfires, damaged engine thermostats, worn spark plugs, under-inflated tires, and damaged coolant sensors are common causes of poor fuel efficiency.
However, regular preventive auto repair and maintenance can identify and address these issues, ensuring your vehicle doesn’t waste fuel unnecessarily.
Detect and Fix Minor Issues
Through periodic DIY and preventive maintenance, you or your mechanic can likely identify and address minor problems before they escalate into more costly, extensive issues that could potentially be life-threatening. Additionally, regular maintenance can lead to the discovery of ways to enhance your car’s performance.
Save Money on Spare Parts and Service Charges
It’s often said that preventive auto repair and maintenance can save you money, but how exactly? By investing in preventive repairs for your car, you can reduce the need for emergency repairs, thereby cutting down on auto spare parts and service charges.
Remember, unexpected breakdowns may lead to additional costs, such as overtime payments to mechanics and extra fees for emergency repair services.
Improved Safety, Reliability, and Precision
Preventive vehicle maintenance is crucial for ensuring your safety on the road. It ensures that your vehicle operates at its best. A well-maintained vehicle with smooth engine starts, stable steering, and tires offering better traction enhances reliability and precision, ultimately increasing safety while driving. With preventive auto repair and maintenance, you can avoid unexpected malfunctions in your car.
Increase the Value of Your Car
Whether or not you plan to sell your car in the future, staying on top of your preventive auto repair and maintenance schedule can significantly enhance your car’s value. If you decide to sell your car or trade it in for a new vehicle, it will likely be worth more than those without a complete service history.
Enjoy Peace of Mind
A comprehensive service allows you to understand the current condition of your vehicle. Armed with this knowledge, you can navigate interstate roads, city streets, and freeways with confidence, knowing that the risk of your car malfunctioning is significantly reduced. Therefore, preventive auto repair is one of the most essential things you can do for your car.
How to Keep Your Vehicle Running Longer and Smoother
The following are some tips for general vehicle maintenance. Nevertheless, they do not include all components since a vehicle consists of several parts.
While you can easily accomplish some of these repair and maintenance tasks yourself, you should not skip visits to your local mechanic. Always remember that professional preventive auto repair and maintenance can help you save money down the line.
- Always follow the instructions found in your manufacturer’s maintenance manual.
- Perform your own inspection. Do this at least once every month so you can immediately notice any issues that are out of the ordinary. Ensure that your tires are properly inflated and have treads. Also, make sure that your lights are functioning efficiently. If there is anything that does not seem fine, then you should not ignore it and try to call the experts right away.
- Check your vehicle’s oil and change it when necessary.
- Learn how to refill your car’s fluids.
- Regularly check your battery and always clean your contacts.
- Always clean your vehicle.
- Your tires need to be rotated and balanced, and at the same time, your alignment should be checked.
- Once your view gets streaky, it’s time to replace your windscreen wipers.
When it comes to modern vehicles, there is much more to consider than the practices mentioned above. For instance, while basic oil checks and changes were common a decade ago, modern-day vehicles require more advanced care, including thorough inspection and adjustments to various systems and components.
The good news is that expert mechanics can perform a comprehensive service, checking, adjusting, repairing, or replacing any damaged parts, regardless of your vehicle’s make or model.
Treasure Valley Auto Care offers preventive auto repair and maintenance services. For more details, you can contact us at 208-385-0339 or email us at quality@treasurevalleyautocare.com.