Most people do not have the time to handle their vehicle nowadays. With the increasing sophistication of the engine system and other spare parts, many people do not have the skill and know-how to maintain their vehicle the correct way.
Failure to implement correct practice prevents a car from attaining its optimal performance. What car owners forget is that regular maintenance of auto parts will keep them out of trouble for a long period of time. Even vehicles which are performing optimally need to be serviced regularly to ensure their health and that they stay on the road for several seasons to come.
Some parts of a vehicle require more maintenance than others. For instance, certain key parts such as brakes, tyres, and belts, as well as filters, suffer regular wear and are meant to be replaced at predictable intervals. Also, failure to undergo standard services such as oil changes can result into serious as well as costly damages.
Benefits of Maintaining Auto Parts Regularly
There are several reasons why your auto parts should be maintained regularly. This content explains in detail how you can benefit from this practice.
1. Helps prevent accidents
Plenty of accidents occur each year that could have been easily prevented, including worn-out auto parts that should have been replaced. Maybe it’s bald tyres, eroded brake pads, or worn-down wiper blades. A regular auto part maintenance will help you in observing and changing those parts. A half-second’s visibility or a few feet of stopping distance can be the difference between avoiding an accident and suffering injuries or even death from a serious collision. Remember, driving a vehicle that is unreliable and unsafe puts not only your life in jeopardy, but the lives of others, too.
2. Reduces emissions
Not only will a regularly maintained engine reduce emissions and mitigate its effects on our planet, but it also optimises fuel utilisation or efficiency.
3. Lowers cost of ownership
Maintenance of your car may take time and money, but these are short-term costs that result in long-term savings. Much like brushing your teeth daily and getting an annual dental check-up prevent you from getting painful cavities and irreversible gum disease, a little routine maintenance protects you against more serious, costly, and often permanent vehicle damage. A wrench in time saves your dime.
4. Increases resale value of your car
Keep a folder with all of your service receipts. If you can demonstrate that you have been properly maintaining all the auto parts of your vehicle, you can get a higher price for it once it’s time to sell and move on to your next car. Knowing that the previous owner had such diligence and foresight removes the doubts and unknown from the mind of the prospective buyer, getting you both a better selling price and likelihood of a sale.
5. Improves performance
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Nope. Neglecting what goes on under your hood is how your vehicle quickly starts showing signs of internal wear. And you feel that effect through your vehicle’s performance. Regular maintenance of auto parts means that when you shift, accelerate, and brake, you can rely on your vehicle to get the job done.
6. Reduces risk of total breakdown
Is it your idea of the perfect drive home on New Year’s Day to have your car break down on the side of the highway in the dark, -20°C weather? We don’t think so. Few events on the road are more stressful or more dangerous than when your car straight out quits on you. And let’s not leave out the cost of towing, rental car, time off from work, and even your ride home. This is why maintenance of your auto parts is crucial to ensure safety.
Having underscored the reasons of regular auto maintenance, we now share you some tips to ensure that your car's parts are in good shape every time.
Auto Parts Maintenance Tips
1. Keep a record of servicing
There are several methods you can use to keep track of the continuous maintenance of your car. With modern technology you can create a spreadsheet on your computer using a template available through Microsoft. Or use software programs and websites which are designed specifically to help you keep your auto maintenance records.
While these are handy, a notebook that can be kept with the car can prove to be the most beneficial because it is always there with you. If you stop for a quick oil change while you are out running errands, the notebook will be right there and you can document the auto maintenance in your log immediately while it is fresh on your mind.
Get a small notebook that has folders built into it so that you can tuck the receipts into the notebook for safe-keeping.
2. Be prepared with your car's VIN and other info
In the first pages of the auto parts maintenance log, keep the car's specifics such as the Make, Model, Year and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Include the date of purchase, how much you paid and where you purchased the car.
Record any warranty information purchased with your vehicle. If you received a vehicle report with the car, put this in one of the folders. Write your insurance company, policy number and representative including the phone number so that everything is at your fingertips.
3. Document all scheduled servicing & routines
Keep track of oil changes, documenting the mileage on the car, along with the date. Write down what type of oil was used.
Oils & Filters Change
Track your filter changes for both oil and air filters, again including the date and mileage in your log. Track when hoses are replaced and also speak with your technician as to how often hoses and belts need to be replaced. Schedule regular auto parts maintenance appointments to keep your car safe and in the best running condition possible. There is nothing more frustrating than breaking down along the road because you forgot to get the maintenance done last month.
Tyre Rotation
It's also a good idea to document each time the tyres are rotated. Check the depth of tread on your tyres and record this in your auto maintenance log. Set up a schedule when the tires may need to be rotated and replaced along with oil changes.
Brakes Checkup
Don't forget to have your brakes checked on a regular basis. Note what type of brake pads were used, write down the mileage and the date you replaced them. Again, know how often these pads should be changed and document the next time they should be checked. It's not a good idea to wait until you hear the brake pads rubbing on metal-to-metal to have your brakes checked. When you have metal-to-metal it can cost you two to three times more money in repairs, compared to if you would have fixed your brakes sooner.
4. Log all accidents & repairs
Include in your log any accidents, with dates, times and repairs that were done due to the accident. If appropriate, write down any personal information of the person you were involved in the accident with. Including name, phone number, insurance information, make model and year of their vehicle. Include as many facts as you can whether it was a major accident or a minor scrape.
Regular Maintenance Procedures
Having understood the tips for auto parts maintenance, it is crucial to know some things which can be done to keep your vehicle in a good working condition. Some of them include the following:
1. Oil change
Changing your car's oil depends on what kind of oil you're using. You should replace conventional oil every 4,800 km (3,000 miles), synthetic blends after 8,000 km (5,000 miles), and full-synthetic oils at 16,000 km (10,000 miles). As a rule, you should change your car's oil if the kilometre threshold is reached. In this way, you can avoid nasty engine sludge and oil seal problems. Oil sludge can damage the engine and cause oil leaks. Car owners who do not change the oil in time generally end up ferrying their oil-leaking cars to auto repair shops.
2. Fuel system service
With the recent development in auto-engineering, inline fuel filters are becoming passé. If your car still has an inline fuel filter, it is recommended that you replace it between 30,500 km (19,000 miles) to 47,000 km (29,000 miles). If you replace it on time, you can be sure that the fuel pump will last longer. You can also use various fuel injector cleaners to clean inline filters. To ensure maximum efficiency, you should replace the filter prior to using the cleaner.
3. Cooling system service
Before you take your car for this kind of service, you should know the type of anti-freeze your car needs. Some newer types of anti-freeze compounds do not require replacement until five years of normal driving have passed, though they are much more expensive than regular anti-freeze. You can browse your auto's manual to know the exact type and the recommended interval for replacement of your coolant.
4. Belts and hoses
Most manufacturers suggest that you replace belts and hoses every two years. However, you have the option to replace belts and hoses if you spot signs of wear and tear even if the items have not yet reached two years. No matter what condition they are in, all belts should be replaced at the 160,000-km (100,000-mile) milestone, since history shows that this is when most belts begin to fail.
Other Maintenance Practices
According to many dealers, you should be rotating your tyres every 6,400 km (4,000 miles) to 9,600 km (6,000 miles). With period rotation, your tyres wear down at an even rate. If you failed to do this routine, you may have to replace your car's tyres sooner than if you did. This simple practice is a basic part of auto part maintenance that many skip out on.
An oil change is crucial to the life of your car. Unfortunately, some people still fail to get their oil changes as often as they need to. Most cars need an oil change every 8,000 km (5,000 miles) to 11,000 km (7,000 miles). Some cars even claim that they can go up to 16,000 km (10,000 miles) without an oil change. The oil change is simple. You pull in to Ringwood and drop off your vehicle. The oil change is done, and you are back on the road. It is a simple process that can extend the life of your vehicle.
Tune-ups are an important part of regular auto maintenance. Fortunately, tune-ups do not happen as often as oil changes and tyre rotations. Tune-ups do not happen for tens of thousands of miles. These tune-ups often replace the important filters in the vehicle. The spark plugs are often checked on top of the usual oil change and filters are checked and changed. These tune-ups may take a little longer, but are crucial to the life of your car.
By keeping your car washed and polished, especially in winter months, you can be sure to combat rust. Taking these small steps for regular care will help you to ensure that your auto parts can last for a longer duration.