Some things that you should know
“Preventative Maintenance”, these are two words you should familiarize yourself with! With the economy and job market what they are today, it is very important to take care of your vehicle.
Have you ever looked at your owners manual’s service recommendations section? I bet if you have, you see the “Severe Service” column, and think, “That is not me”. Most of you would be very wrong. Just driving your vehicle around town, stopping and starting, IS severe service.
The constant starting of the engine, short distance driving is hard on your vehicle. This holds true for those of you who drive the expressways to the city. Traffic is a killer on brakes, and everything else.
Now, if you are a salesperson who gets on the Interstate and drives for hours at a time, you may not be included in severe service, as the long highway miles are not nearly as hard on things as stopping and starting.
Having us change your engine oil every 3,000 miles is a great first step in maintaining your vehicle. As I have written later on this page, do not be fooled by a discount oil change.
When did you have your transmission fluid changed? Bet you never think of it, and it should be changed on average, every 30,000 to 50,000 miles to prevent transmission failure.
One fluid that is very neglected is, the fluid in your differentials. Very few people ever have this changed. If your vehicle is front wheel drive, the differential is lubricated with your transmission fluid.
Don’t forget about your antifreeze, belts and hoses too! Antifreeze brakes down and actually will eat at your gaskets, radiators, heater cores, and even the inside of your engine.
How did your wiper blades clear your windshield the last time you used them? Did you know they should be changed every 6 months?
Does your vehicle have a Cabin air filter? If you have never heard of a cabin air filter, it is basically just like the furnace filter in your house. The air coming into your vehicle from the outside, passes through this filter and removes allergens, dirt, and odors. As it becomes clogged, the incoming air will be restricted and your heater and air conditions performance will be diminished.
Most everyone knows your vehicle has an air filter, right? Was it checked at your last oil change? An engine is a big air pump, and it must have a constant supply of clean air in order to word efficiently.
Have you ever looked at your owners manual’s service recommendations section? I bet if you have, you see the “Severe Service” column, and think, “That is not me”. Most of you would be very wrong. Just driving your vehicle around town, stopping and starting, IS severe service.
The constant starting of the engine, short distance driving is hard on your vehicle. This holds true for those of you who drive the expressways to the city. Traffic is a killer on brakes, and everything else.
Now, if you are a salesperson who gets on the Interstate and drives for hours at a time, you may not be included in severe service, as the long highway miles are not nearly as hard on things as stopping and starting.
Having us change your engine oil every 3,000 miles is a great first step in maintaining your vehicle. As I have written later on this page, do not be fooled by a discount oil change.
When did you have your transmission fluid changed? Bet you never think of it, and it should be changed on average, every 30,000 to 50,000 miles to prevent transmission failure.
One fluid that is very neglected is, the fluid in your differentials. Very few people ever have this changed. If your vehicle is front wheel drive, the differential is lubricated with your transmission fluid.
Don’t forget about your antifreeze, belts and hoses too! Antifreeze brakes down and actually will eat at your gaskets, radiators, heater cores, and even the inside of your engine.
How did your wiper blades clear your windshield the last time you used them? Did you know they should be changed every 6 months?
Does your vehicle have a Cabin air filter? If you have never heard of a cabin air filter, it is basically just like the furnace filter in your house. The air coming into your vehicle from the outside, passes through this filter and removes allergens, dirt, and odors. As it becomes clogged, the incoming air will be restricted and your heater and air conditions performance will be diminished.
Most everyone knows your vehicle has an air filter, right? Was it checked at your last oil change? An engine is a big air pump, and it must have a constant supply of clean air in order to word efficiently.
So called discounts
How often do you see a sign or television commercial about “Discount Brakes”, or “Save Big on something”?
Have you ever wondered why? Let me answer this question for you. No matter how you cut it, quality parts and labor cost money. Not saying you should be ripped off, but you really do get what you pay for in most cases.
Let us say, Service Center #1 sells a service for $150.00, and Service Center #2 sells the so-called same service for $69.95. Maybe Service Center #1 is making a huge profit? Or as in most cases in a reputable Service Centers, Service Center #1 is selling a premium product, and doing a premium job of installation.
Much of the time, a place such as Service Center #2, is buying an inferior part, and just doing half the job installing said low quality parts.
We have chosen here at Tom’s Auto Service, to be Service Center #1. There is no way to have a huge discount on a quality service. All of the parts we use are of top quality, and the labor is top quality also.
When was the last time your Brake Fluid was changed? Bet you did not realize it should be changed every two years, regardless of mileage. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and contaminates from the brake system, which greatly reduces the boiling point of the fluid.
Just think about it, would you rather get it done right, and once? Or would you rather get a cut rate job, that is done improperly, and only last a short period of time, and need done again? And read the fine print on these deals.
Have you ever wondered why? Let me answer this question for you. No matter how you cut it, quality parts and labor cost money. Not saying you should be ripped off, but you really do get what you pay for in most cases.
Let us say, Service Center #1 sells a service for $150.00, and Service Center #2 sells the so-called same service for $69.95. Maybe Service Center #1 is making a huge profit? Or as in most cases in a reputable Service Centers, Service Center #1 is selling a premium product, and doing a premium job of installation.
Much of the time, a place such as Service Center #2, is buying an inferior part, and just doing half the job installing said low quality parts.
We have chosen here at Tom’s Auto Service, to be Service Center #1. There is no way to have a huge discount on a quality service. All of the parts we use are of top quality, and the labor is top quality also.
When was the last time your Brake Fluid was changed? Bet you did not realize it should be changed every two years, regardless of mileage. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and contaminates from the brake system, which greatly reduces the boiling point of the fluid.
Just think about it, would you rather get it done right, and once? Or would you rather get a cut rate job, that is done improperly, and only last a short period of time, and need done again? And read the fine print on these deals.
More on discounted services
Talking about “Discounts”, did you know there are different qualities of lubricants to use in your vehicle? Many times, these “discount” oil change places are using lower grades, and sometimes recycled (re-refined) oils. Low quality oils can cause sludge to build up inside your engine due to breaking down more quickly.
Even the grease used to lubricate your suspension can be inferior quality, and cause hastened wear of components. We have seen on numerous occasions, where the fittings were never even greased. Many of the newer vehicles however, do not have suspension components that can be greased, so this is becoming less of a problem.
This gives you another thing to think about before you opt to “save” money on something so important.
Even the grease used to lubricate your suspension can be inferior quality, and cause hastened wear of components. We have seen on numerous occasions, where the fittings were never even greased. Many of the newer vehicles however, do not have suspension components that can be greased, so this is becoming less of a problem.
This gives you another thing to think about before you opt to “save” money on something so important.
Quality
YOU, the consumer is responsible for making an educated decision. Do you ever think of how your life, your families lives, and the others you pass on the road, rely on the decisions you make about servicing your vehicle?
Sure, if a non safety item such as your radio quits, you will not kill yourself, or someone else. BUT, let us say you had someone install a cheap set of brake pads, poor quality suspension parts, or tires that are not up to the quality that you vehicle came equipped with. Cheap brakes will overheat, smell, wear quickly, and FADE! Yes, due to the materials not being original equipment specification or better, your brakes could become overheated, which overheats the brake fluid, which in turn can cause the brake pedal to get soft. The above description is over simplified, but in a nut shell, you could hit something or someone that may have been prevented with quality parts being installed.
A suspension part of lesser quality can wear prematurely or even fail. It is not a good thing for a tie-rod or ball-joint to fail. Imagine going down the road at just 25 MPH, and one of the suspension parts fails. You have just lost control of your vehicle. Would you rather have the premium part installed, or do you want to save a few dollars and install the poor quality part?
Sure, if a non safety item such as your radio quits, you will not kill yourself, or someone else. BUT, let us say you had someone install a cheap set of brake pads, poor quality suspension parts, or tires that are not up to the quality that you vehicle came equipped with. Cheap brakes will overheat, smell, wear quickly, and FADE! Yes, due to the materials not being original equipment specification or better, your brakes could become overheated, which overheats the brake fluid, which in turn can cause the brake pedal to get soft. The above description is over simplified, but in a nut shell, you could hit something or someone that may have been prevented with quality parts being installed.
A suspension part of lesser quality can wear prematurely or even fail. It is not a good thing for a tie-rod or ball-joint to fail. Imagine going down the road at just 25 MPH, and one of the suspension parts fails. You have just lost control of your vehicle. Would you rather have the premium part installed, or do you want to save a few dollars and install the poor quality part?
Hybrid Vehicles
Be sure to check your owners manual for your Hybrid vehicle. The engines in these vehicles also require maintenance. The gasoline engine still needs the oil and filters to be changed.