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Craig Stephan |
While maintaining a car may seem troublesome and expensive, just remember that it is a necessary investment to preserve the performance and extend the life of your vehicle.
Oil
Changing the oil is perhaps the single most crucial maintenance measure affecting a car's performance and longevity. As engines are designed with tighter tolerances, higher capabilities, and increasing red-line limits, maintaining a clean and quality oil supply is imperative in lasting performance. While changing the oil frequently is never bad for a car, it is also unnecessary to change the oil every 3000 miles as claimed by car manufacturers. The 3000 mile rule of thumb was developed decades ago with lower quality oil, dirtier roads, and inefficient engines. Modern conventional oil can withstand up to 5000 miles of abuse, and some fully synthetic oils can even last 10,000 miles before requiring a change (Synthetic oils cost much more than conventional oils but perform much better). The catch, however, is that while high quality oil may last longer, the oil filter is a major limiting factor. Even with the best synthetic oils, the filter needs to be changed every 3000-5000 miles as it becomes ineffective when soiled with metal and carbon deposits. Fortunately, both changing the oil and the filter are VERY simple and inexpensive procedures. I can have you in and out in under an hour.
Tires
Another neglected component, tires contribute tremendously to a car's safety, performance, and cost (if abused or neglected). Tires are not simply inflated rubber tubes - they provide traction for acceleration, turning, and most importantly braking. A common misconception is that the brakes provide the actual deceleration in braking. However, contrary to popular belief, the tires are actually responsible for 70% of braking while the brakes are responsible for only 30%. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain a set of healthy tires. Damaged, improper, or worn out tires may lead to extensive damage (i.e. accident), or at the very least, vastly decrease fuel economy.
Tire Inflation/Pressure
Tire maintenance is simple - as long as you own a tire wrench and an air pressure gauge, normal maintenance can be performed. Tires should be properly inflated at all times. Improperly inflated tires can damage tires, decrease fuel efficiency (as much as .3% for every under-inflated psi), and decrease traction. A good time to check tire pressure is when fueling the car, and if the tires are under-inflated, we have a complementary air station.Rotating
Because of uneven distributions of weight, different wear patterns depending on the route you take to work, terrain features, and many factors, tires wear unevenly. Front tires will often wear more heavily than rear tires since the majority of the braking pressure/friction is directed toward the front tires and the car is heavier toward the front. To ensure a longer tire life, tires should be rotated every 5000-10,000 miles or so. Regularly inspect your tires, and if you notice differences in tread wear in different tires, rotations should be done. Rotating tires is one of the services we preform.
Lubricants and Fluids
Like motor oil, other fluids in your vehicle play major roles in performance, reliability, and longevity. Although these fluids need not be changed as often or monitored as closely as oil, it is nevertheless important to check (and change if needed) periodically. These procedures, while more troublesome to maintain than motor oil, are all just as important in their own way.
Power Steering Fluid
Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is required in hydraulic-operated power brakes. Make sure the brake fluid is at its correct level. Clean brake fluid should look slightly darker than cooking oil, an amber color. Black brake fluid should be changed. A good time to check brake fluid level is when you have your oil change.
Transmission Fluid
Flushing and replacing transmission fluid is much tougher than changing your oil. Draining the transmission pan, a routine maintenance procedure that should be performed once every 50,000 miles or so, only drains a small portion of the fluid. To completely flush the system, a professional machine is required. This service runs anywhere between $100 and $150, depending on the type of fluid and how much fluid you need. Despite its price, this is much cheaper than replacing a shot transmission as a result of inadequate fluid.
Coolant
With modern engines operating at higher heats and stresses, a proper coolant system takes on the arduous responsibility of maintaining an engine at operating temperatures. If a coolant system fails, an engine can literally weld its internal parts together within seconds. Coolant runs through a closed system, and hence is not subject to the same problems as motor oil. However, as cars age, hoses and seals may deteriorate and leak coolant. As the coolant itself ages, it will also begin to degrade, become dirty, and less effective. Fortunately, a coolant flush is inexpensive and relatively quick. A good time to check coolant level is also during an oil change, top off as needed. A flush, however, should be performance once every 30,000 miles or 2 years. This procedure is needed less often on newer cars.
An engine operates with internal combustion. Combustion needs air. While running, an engine is like a vacuum - the more air it gets the better it performs. However, if an engine sucks in dirty air, the engine may be damaged from dust and debris particles in the air. An air filter cleans and straightens airflow before the air enters the engine. The air filter should be checked regularly, about once a month, and should need replacement roughly every 15,000 miles. If the filter is dirt riddled before then, it obviously needs to be replaced. A dirty air filter not only impedes air flow, decreasing performance and gas mileages, a heavily soiled filter may be distorted structurally and let in debris. Air filters take less than 15 minutes to replace.
Serpentine Belts
Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, fog-lights, etc keep you and others safe on the road. Avoid a ticket, check your lights regularly. If you can't replace a light on your own, come on in, that's what we do. Ask us about the better quality LED replacement lights that last longer and shine brighter. Some day all cars will come with the safer LED lights but you can get them now.
Brakes
It is needless to say why brakes are important. While brake rotors may last a long time, brake pads wear down much quicker. Brake pads are built in with a warning system - the loud high pitched screeching sound is indication that brake pads are almost worn away. When your brakes screech, it may be caused by build up of brake dust or the brake pads may be worn.The rotors may also require maintenance periodically. Modern brakes are basically a thick disk of high-friction metal. When the rotors become uneven from heavy use, the car may shake or pulsate when braking. We can machine the rotors, cutting away the uneven surface and leaving a smooth surface.