7 Preventative Maintenance Tips You Should Perform Every Season

You should strive to keep your car in tip-top position all year round; however, your car’s maintenance becomes especially important when the seasons turn.

When the temperature changes, the condition of your car and the road changes with them. Preventative maintenance keeps your car from needing expensive and extensive maintenance in the future by getting rid of small issues early on.

Sometimes your car will emit strange smells, make weird noises, or shake while you are driving. Other times, it may not give any indication that something is wrong. With seasonal preventative maintenance by an automotive repair and services company, you can make sure your vehicle is always running smoothly and does not encounter any big problems in the long run.

Here are some of the things that need to be addressed during a preventative maintenance procedure.

 Oil Change

During the warm seasons, insects, rains, and other environmental factors can negatively impact the well-being of your car. Dirt and debris can build up in your car during spring and summer, which, over time, will not just cause your oil to become dark, sticky and murky, but also cause faster fluid depletion in your vehicle.

When your oil is dirty, it is rendered useless. This is why you should get an oil change every four to six months, or after your car has traveled 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

Although you can change your oil at home, bringing your car around to a qualified auto repair service will guarantee you better service. An oil change is essential for the smooth running of your engine. Oil that has become thick and dirty will result in a buildup of grime, which will prevent your components from working properly.

Battery Check

Your battery tells us about the life of your vehicle. If your vehicle is very old and its battery often malfunctions, there is little else your mechanic can do but suggest you replace the battery. However, there are several smaller issues that can be dealt with.

Over time, your battery can experience buildups, leaks, and many other problems that will prevent it from maintaining a charge or starting your vehicle.

A qualified auto service can clean up and fix your battery issues and make small adjustments to the component so that it can continue to work like new.

Tires

This is one of the most important parts of seasonal auto maintenance because changing temperatures have a lot of impact on your tires.

When the snow and ice hit, you may need winter tires to provide extra traction to your vehicle. Even if you live in a place with warmer climates, over time, your tires will wear down. This can cause your vehicle to tilt to one side, leading to uneven driving and difficulty in steering. By rotating your tires regularly, they will wear down evenly, which will extend the life of your tires and enable your car to run smoothly.

It may seem like a bother to you to go and get your tire rotated and fix your alignment, but if you don’t do this, your car will need new tires prematurely.

Brake Inspection

One of the worst things that can happen to you on a slick road is to suffer a brake malfunction. Before your roads get wet or icy, make sure you get your brakes inspected to save yourself and your family from harm.

An experienced auto service will check your rotor, caliper, drum, and brake pads to make sure everything is in good working order. If your brake pads haven’t been changed in a while, this is the time to get it done.

Timing Belt Inspection

A timing belt is a toothed strap that connects your engine’s crankshaft to the camshaft. The belt controls the movement of the pistons and camshaft so that the components don’t unnecessarily come in contact with each other and cause friction.

When the timing belt is worn down or not working properly, you may hear a crunching or grinding noise in your car, which can signal the need for big replacements in your car’s engine.

To be on the safe side, you should change your timing belt after every 60,000 miles, though you should get it looked once or twice a year to see if it is functioning alright.

Heating and Cooling

Before the cold comes in or before you experience a heatwave, it is a good idea to get your heating and air conditioning systems checked by auto repair mechanics.

They can do a visual inspection, check for any fluid leakage or vent blockage, and make small repairs to ensure that you remain toasty warm in the winter, and cool in the summers.

Basic Tune-Up

If you are not certain which part of your car needs the most attention, a tune-up is a great way to make sure your vehicle runs at its maximum capacity. An automotive repair and service company will diagnose any problems related to the engine, battery, ignitions, and brakes, and will scan the default codes to ensure that you experience smooth running.

There is no set specification in regards to what is checked during a standard preventative maintenance procedure. But at PA Auto Inspection, our mechanics work hard to diagnose all issues and nip them in the bud.