What are the Basic Car Maintenance Items Needed for Your Vehicle?

Knowing the right vehicle maintenance items that are suggested for your car is the first step in keeping your car operating stronger and longer than usual.  You may be wondering what are the basic car maintenance items needed for your vehicle?  The first place to look is in your owner’s manual. This little book outlines a schedule of vehicle maintenance for easy reference.  

About every 12,000 miles, or every 12 months, ask your auto mechanic to perform a full inspection of your vehicle to evaluate the components and operating systems for general wear and tear. This inspection should include:

• Oil changes, including filter replacement
• Lights, tires, exhaust system
• Brakes and steering systems
• The engine—a tune up may be needed
• Condition of fluids, such as the hydraulic fluid, transmission, and coolant
• Cooling system, including the radiator, Serpentine belts, and hoses
• Suspension system--shocks, struts, axles
• Wheel alignment and tire balancing
• Condition of the battery—including the alternator

Today’s newer vehicles will usually have an in-vehicle service reminder that will illuminate on the dashboard for certain maintenance services, such as oil changes, fluid level inspects, brakes, transmission, etc.  If you have an older vehicle, follow the vehicle maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual as these service intervals are still based on the number of miles driven within a certain time period.

By taking care of routine vehicle maintenance before an issue turns into an expensive repair, you will save time and money spent at an auto shop. It can also help prevent accidents and even save lives!

Do you want to know what are the basic car maintenance intervals for your vehicle? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon for more information about regular vehicle maintenance and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.

Top 8 General Car Maintenance Tips for Winter Driving!

Winter will soon be here in full force!  Because preventative vehicle maintenance is so vital for this time of year, ask your auto repair technician to perform a thorough checkup of all the systems of your vehicle.  Of course, be sure to have any compulsory repairs taken care of as soon as potential.  This will ensure that you can drive your car with confidence out on wet and icy roads.

Remember to take care of these general car maintenance tips for safe winter driving:

• Car Battery--Cold temperatures reduce a battery’s cranking power. A battery generally has only about half of the cranking power at 0° F than it has at 80° F.  If your battery is worn out, it may be time to replace it.
• Windshield and Wiper Blades--Wiper blades generally start to lose their effectiveness in as little as six months. Streaks or missed expanses of glass are signs that the blades should be replaced.  Remove ice from the windshield with an ice scraper, not your wiper blades. If you park outside, place the wipers in the raised position to keep them from freezing to the windshield.  Keep your windshield-washer reservoir filled with a washer solution that contains an antifreeze agent.  Also, make sure the heater is functioning properly so that plenty of warm air is being directed to the windshield in the defrost mode.
• Lights--Inspect that all the car's lights are working correctly and that the lenses are clean so that you'll have optimum visibility at night and that other drivers can see you.
• Oil--Oil thickens when cold, making it harder for the engine to turn over. Normally, you should be using multi-viscosity oil that has a "W" in the viscosity, signifying that it's formulated for winter use, providing good oil flow at low temperatures.
• Radiator, Hoses, and Belts--Have the radiator and heater hoses inspected for cracks, leaks, or contamination from oil. The hoses should be firm yet pliable.  Try to keep your coolant mixture at the correct ratio of antifreeze and water to keep it from freezing.  Your mechanic will be happy to inspect it for you.
• Tires-- Inspect your tire traction.  If your area gets occasional snow, a new set of all-season tires rated to perform well in snow and ice tests should be fine.  Or you should consider purchasing snow tires that are designed with special tread patterns and made from rubber compounds that can grip snow and ice for optimum traction.  Keep your tires correctly inflated, as tire pressure declines with the thermometer.
• Brakes--If you feel any vibration, hear screeching, or the brake pedal feels “soft,” have your brakes checked and repaired as soon as potential so you can stop on slick and icy roads.
• Emergency kit--Always carry a supply of water, snacks, jumper cables, flashlight, road flares, first aid kit, blanket, and cell phone and charger.

Need to know more general car maintenance tips?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about our vehicle maintenance services and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.

Do You Want to Know How Often You Should Service Your Car?

There are some drivers on the road who think that as long as their car gets them from Point A to Point B, they don’t need to worry about vehicle maintenance.  They either don’t even think about how often you should service your car, or they may not have the money in their budget to pay for seemingly unnecessary items.  

However, there could be damage occurring in the engine, transmission, or suspension systems by neglecting regular vehicle maintenance.  The cost of repairs (i.e., engine or transmission rebuild) is significantly more than the suggested service.  It really doesn’t save you money by extending the time between the suggested service intervals. 

Do you want to know how often you should service your car?  Normally, minor services are commonly performed at 7,500, 15,000, 45,000 and 75,000 miles while major services are performed at 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000-mile intervals.  This will protect the warranty, maintain safety, and boost the resale value of your vehicle.

Minor vehicle maintenance generally includes the following items:

• Changing the oil and filter
• Tire service--rotation, alignment, balancing, air pressure (including the spare)
• Inspecting and cleaning the battery
• A checkup of all fluids, filters, belts, hoses, brakes, and emissions
• Windshield wipers
• Replacing burned out lights

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, major vehicle maintenance commonly includes the following, in addition to the minor services listed above:

• Replacement of various filters, fluids and spark plugs.
• Replacing the timing belt and/or serpentine belt at the suggested mileage interval.
• Servicing the air conditioner/heater
• Other services related to the fuel delivery, emissions and ignition systems.

There are two main benefits of keeping up with car maintenance.  First, your mechanic can let you know what it may need to be replaced right away, or what can wait awhile. Secondly, you can drive with confidence knowing that you have a dependable and safe source of transportation. 

Want to know more about how often should you service your car?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Auto Max of Oregon today for more information about vehicle maintenance and to make an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Canby, OR and surrounding areas.