Keeping your car running can be essential to your everyday life. This is especially true here in New Mexico, where locations tend to be more spread out and public transportation is not well established. Your car takes you to your job, to your favorite outdoor activities, and keeps you connected with friends and family. A car can be one of the most important investments in your life.
We know that not everyone is a mechanic. So we wanted to break down the most essential maintenance tasks that can keep your precious ride on the road, and ultimately keep you connected. Maintaining your vehicle can also prevent costly repairs down the road, and will save you money over time. Here is the list of the top maintenance items that we consider to be the most important.
No suprise here. Almost everyone knows that oil changes are necessary. The reason we hold it as the most important maintenance task is because it can have a lasting impact on your engine, which is the heart of every vehicle. Avoiding an oil change can result in irreversable engine damage, including warping of vital engine parts due to overheating and possibly complete engine failure. Make sure you schedule an oil change with your mechanic every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. Also, invest in a superior motor oil to ensure lasting protection for your engine.
Without a battery, your car won't start. Pretty simple. Most people do not think about their battery until it fails or their car is struggling to turn over. A simple battery test can avoid this issue, and keep you from the stress of running late for work when it happens. For those of us in Santa Fe, the cold winters can reak havoc on your batteries charge. Get your battery tested in early October, before it gets too cold, and make sure to continue getting it checked throughout the winter months.
Batteries can also become drained when electronics are left on in your vehicle. Most of us have experienced this when we accidentally leave the cab light on overnight. You can get your car running again with a friendly jump, but this will not solve the underlying issue. Once a battery is completely drained, a jump will only charge it enough to get your car started. It will not, however, completely charge the battery.
A tune up is essential to keeping your engine running properly. Tune ups should be scheduled every 10,000 miles or once a year for older cars that do not have electric starters. For newer cars, this can be pushed back to every 25,000 miles. Similar to oil changes, avoiding a tune up can cause irreversable damage to your cars engine. Spark plugs ensure that your cars engine is firing on time, and in the proper order. An air filter ensures that nothing harmful enters the engine chamber. A tune up is a great way to ensure that your car runs smoothly for years to come.
There are alot of different elemnts to your car that require fluid to run properly. Your engine, radiator, transmission, brakes, and power steering all operate on fluid, just to name a few. Have a low level of fluid in these systems can cause extra strain or even cause the system to fail. This is a simple fix that can save you thousands on costly repairs further down the road.
At Master Tech Auto Repair, we strive to build a lasting relationship with our customers. One way we achieve this is by scheduling future appointments with our clients for the types of repairs listed above. Becoming part of the Master Tech family ensures that we value your cars long term health as a priority. Please visit our Contact Us page for further information on how you can schedule an appointment, and talk with our owner and head mechanic Ari. He will happily walk you through some of the details regarding our scheduled maintenance program.
