The Importance of Routine Automobile Maintenance

There is no doubt that we all love our cars, Americans especially, and with the largest interstate system in the world there is no doubt why the thrill of the open road is so appealing. People love their cars for their appearance, their convenience, and most importantly, for their performance and reliability. Keeping your automobile running smoothly requires routine maintenance though, even on brand new vehicles. Some of these maintenance items may require a mechanic with specialized tools and equipment, but there are also many others that you can perform yourself. The complexity of maintenance often depends on the design of the car and at times it may be more of a headache to attempt to complete a repair yourself rather than pay to have a trained professional do it. The price you pay for automobile maintenance is worth it however, for it may very well extend the life of your automobile by tens of thousands of miles. Maintenance in some cases can increase your gas mileage, improve the safety of your vehicle, and maintenance will ensure that you won’t find yourself sitting on the side of the road with a broken down vehicle.

Two of the easiest maintenance issues that automobiles require is that the air filter be changed, and the PCV valve be replaced. The air filter should be changed every 30,000 miles, although some brands may last for a longer period of time. There are also air filters on the market that do not require a complete replacement, these reusable air filters only need to be cleaned using a chemical solution, and may be re-oiled. The PCV valve only needs to be replaced when it becomes clogged and it can be tested for problems quite easily. To test the valve simply locate it within the engine compartment, remove it from it’s position in the valve cover and shake it to see if you hear a rattle. If it rattles quite loudly then it is fine, if it doesn’t rattle at all or seems to have difficulty then it should be replaced immediately.

One of the most common maintenance issues is changing the oil in your car or truck; oil lubricates the internal mechanisms of your engine and ensures that it operates smoothly. It is recommended by most manufacturers that the oil be changed in an automobile every 3,000 miles, and this includes changing the oil filter as well. This is one maintenance issue that is easy to do yourself and can be done with minimal tools, the only substantial issue is what to do with the used oil after you drain it from the car. Some automobile parts suppliers do take used oil from consumers, and if you’re planning on changing it yourself be sure that you know what you’re going to do with it, under no circumstances should you pour it onto the ground or into any drain. Changing the oil in your car is as easy as removing the drain plug, allowing the oil to drain, removing the old filter and replacing it with a new one, putting the drain plug back in, and then refilling it.

The coolant level in your vehicle is something that should be checked regularly and the level of anti-freeze is especially important during the winter months. An entire flush of the coolant system should occur either annually or sometimes every two years depending upon the manufacturers recommendation. In addition to changing the coolant and flushing the system, the thermostat should be changed to avoid a lack of coolant reaching the engine block. As with many chemicals that are found in vehicles, anti-freeze is quite dangerous and the fluid should always be treated with care. In addition to replacing the fluid and the thermostat, all hoses should be checked for leaks and replaced immediately to avoid further problems.

One maintenance issue whose difficulty depends solely upon the design of the car is the changing of the spark plugs. On some automobiles this is an easy task, with the spark plugs being accessible in a position located below the valve covers, on other automobiles however, the process is more extensive and may require the removal of components that are not related to the actual plugs. For example, some engines may require that the upper intake manifold be removed in order to access the spark plugs, while this task can be completed in your driveway, assuming that you possess the proper tools, for those with less experience with automobile repair this should be left to a professional.

If the spark plugs are easily accessible then this can be completed quite easily. In addition to replacing the plugs themselves it is necessary to replace the spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor button at extended intervals. The wires themselves may not need replacing unless the vehicle is experiencing a problem, as is true with the distributor cap and the rotor button. Common symptoms that indicate problems with these components includes “skipping” of the engine, sluggish performance, increased fuel consumption, and in some cases a total shut down of the engine. The difficulty of replacing these components depends upon their location and their accessibility. If they are in a location that  can be reached easily then the task can be performed yourself, which in this case, could save you upwards of $100.

An additional maintenance action that directly effects the performance of your vehicles engine is the fuel filter, and again, the ease of this procedure depends upon it’s location. The fuel filter cleans the fuel leaving your gas tank before it reaches your engine, this is incredibly important since any foreign materials that enter your engine could cause tremendous damage. The fuel filter on most modern fuel-injected vehicles is located underneath the car, somewhere between the fuel tank and the engine, typically closer to the tank. Unfortunately, on some automobiles the filter may be located above the tank, requiring that it be removed in order to replace the filter. While changing the fuel filter can be an easy and affordable task, if the tank requires removal it may be necessary to take it to a trained mechanic who possesses the tools to do so safely.

Perhaps more important than the performance of your engine is your ability to stop the automobile, meaning the condition of your brake system. The brakes on many vehicles can be changed easily by following the directions outlined in any of the common repair manuals that can be found at many parts supplier locations. There are two different types of brakes found on vehicles, drum brakes, and disc brakes. Other components aside from the actual brake pads include the rotors, upon which the brakes clamp down, the calipers that disc brakes utilize, as well as the many springs and various parts that drum brakes utilize in order to stop the vehicle. With experience changing brakes, this can be done yourself but in the case of damage to the braking system, or if you have no experience changing brake system components, then this should be left to a professional for the sake of safety alone. This can be a costly repair however, sometimes exceeding two or three hundred dollars depending upon the type of brake system and the amount of damage. The best advice in order to avoid costly repairs is to take the car to a shop immediately upon any problem or change in the brake system performance. Symptoms of a brake problem include, a scraping sound heard when the brakes are applied, shaking of the car while braking, or lack of pedal response.

The ride quality of your automobile depends upon the quality and state of your tires, and with regular checks of their inflation, as well as rotating them, this will ensure that you get the maximum amount of life out of your tires. In addition to the savings you will reap from prolonging the life of your tires, gas mileage is directly effected by their inflation rate. While different types of tires require different levels of pressure, too much may cause the tires to wear out in the middle, or too little may cause them to wear excessively on the sides. Rotating the tires will also increase the quality of your cars ride and this is something that can be performed in your own driveway. There are differences however in the technique involved in rotating tires, but specific directions can be obtained from your automobile owner’s manual. The difference is in whether to move the tires from the front to the back or to move them diagonally.

By adhering to these recommendations you may save yourself a lot of hassle when it comes to the performance, or lack thereof, of your automobile. Proper maintenance may make the difference between a car that lasts for 100,000 miles without problems, or a car that lasts for 300,000 miles. While some of these operations may require that your vehicle be taken to an automotive repair shop, the cost of routine maintenance is more than worth it when it comes to the safety of yourself and the occupants of your vehicle. In many ways these items can be considered “preventative maintenance” as they do decrease the chances of your vehicle suffering a catastrophic failure.