Modern cars can last well over a decade with proper maintenance. Compared with the cost of purchasing a new vehicle, it pays to make car care a priority. At Big Bear Muffler, Inc, our mission is to keep your car dependable, so you get the best value and mileage.
Regular maintenance costs a little in the short run but helps you retain your car's condition longer than motorists who don't practice automotive care. This comes in handy in the future when major automotive systems continue to operate. It also helps you prevent unexpected automotive repairs.
Regular maintenance is also great if you ever plan to sell your car, netting you a better sale price than a vehicle with little maintenance.
Follow the car maintenance tips below to keep your vehicle around longer.
Replace Brakes
Brake pads and rotors need to be replaced during the life of your vehicle. The timing for this depends on several factors, including how often you stop while driving and how thin or thick the rotors and pads are initially.
If you live in town and do a lot of stop-and-go driving, your brakes wear faster than someone who drives mostly on highway or country roads with few stops. Brake pads should be replaced when the pad has 1/4"or less remaining.
Check Car Battery
On average, car batteries last between 2-6 years depending on outdoor temperature, driving frequency, and overall use among other influences. While you can't control some factors, like the environment, there are ways to maximize battery life for your area.
A few tips to maximize battery life: keep your battery clean; don't leave your car unused for an extended period of time; and don't forget to shut off the interior lights and headlights when your car isn't in use.
Check Wheel Alignment
Check your vehicle alignment to ensure you're getting the best life and performance out of your tires. You can throw a car out of alignment when you hit a pot hole or curb. If you notice irregular treadwear or experience your vehicle pulling to the left or right when you're trying to stay straight in a lane, you might need a wheel alignment to fix the camber, toe, and caster angles.
Rotate Tires
A tire rotation maximizes tire life by swapping the position of each tire on your vehicle. This is done because your vehicle doesn't distribute an equal amount of stress on each tire. By switching front and rear tires, you keep treadwear even.
Rotation patterns vary depending on your vehicle and tires. Rotating tires regularly means you won't have to worry about finding replacements at different intervals or contending with a performance decrease because your tires don't match in treadwear.
Limit Stop-and-Go Driving
Short trips waste fuel and add unnecessary wear and to automotive components. When possible, take longer routes.
Follow these tips and the service intervals listed inside your owner’s manual to guard against major repairs and unexpected failures. Proper vehicle maintenance:
Stay on top of routine vehicle maintenance and make sure to visit Big Bear Muffler, Inc if you experience an automotive problem. We provide a variety of automotive services to Fostoria, OH, Findlay, OH, Bowling Green, OH, and surrounding areas.
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