Why Preventative Maintenance is Important for Used Cars

Preventative maintenance and care is something that is applicable in pretty much any aspect of our lives. However, when it comes to vehicles, we often ignore this concept. Some vehicle owners think that if the car is working fine, it does not require any maintenance. Well, the truth is that your car requires maintenance so that it can continue to function smoothly.

Let us put it this way: your doctor tells you that you are prone to getting a clogged artery, and in order to prevent that, you must make sure to do a half-hour walk every day. Now, would you rather do the walking, or wait until you have to be rushed to the operation theater with your life hanging in the balance?

Similarly, car regular preventative maintenance allows you to keep your car in the best possible condition and prevent any major issues ‘down the road’. In this blog, we will be discussing some of the reasons that preventative maintenance is important for used cars.

Reasons to Implement Preventative Vehicle Maintenance:

1) Early detection of problems:

Preventative vehicle maintenance is not just restricted to the replacement of filters, belts, and spark plugs – although these are definitely vital in ensuring the smooth functioning of your car.

However, beyond that, preventative care allows your mechanic an opportunity to search for any other current or potential problems.

Often, minor issues do not make themselves noticeable. However, a capable professional knows exactly what to look for and dig out these minor problems before they become major inconveniences.

2) Saves money:

When compared to the repair or replacement of damaged parts, preventative maintenance is quite inexpensive. Naturally, then, you should opt for the route that will prove more cost-effective over the long-term. In other words, prevention is indeed better than cure. When you adhere to regular car maintenance, you reduce the chances of major problems that could cost you a lot more money.

For instance, if you regularly get your tires aligned and rotated, the procedure would cost you somewhere between $150-200. On the flipside, if you neglect the deteriorating condition of your tires, you would eventually have to get them replaced prematurely – an expense of approximately $1,000.

Similarly, regular oil changes can keep the engine in optimal health and maximize its useful life, while tune-ups will make sure that the electrical components stay in top shape.

3) Increases safety:

Consistent vehicle maintenance makes sure that every part of your car is operating in the manner that it should, which makes the car safer for you to drive. In other words, preventative care reduces the chances of vehicle breakdowns.

As we mentioned, routine maintenance allows the mechanic to detect any systems vulnerable to future problems and address those prospective problems before they materialize.

During winters, your car will probably require extra maintenance, especially if you drive around any icy terrains or roads.

In addition, maintenance does not only enhance your safety, but also of other drivers and pedestrians.

4) Quicker procedure:

Routine vehicle maintenances are far simpler for mechanics to deal with – especially if they have been scheduled in advance. This means that you will be able to get the procedures completed quickly without hampering your daily routine.

On the other hand, if you bring your vehicle to the mechanic only after you have had a major problem, there is a fair chance that you and your vehicle will have to remain separated for a great deal more time.

Complex vehicle repairs can often take many hours or days to execute. At times, specialty parts have to be specifically ordered, which brings the entire repairing process to a halt.

So, you will either have to manage in the absence of your car, or will need to rent one (which will further add to your expenses).

Not only is routine maintenance more efficient, but it also offers you more control. You can decide when to take your car in for its routine care as it is not an urgent requirement.

5) Increases car longevity:

At the start of this blog, we compared a vehicle to a human being – this is because, just like us humans, cars also have lives. And, as is the case with humans, the more we care about the health of our vehicles, the fewer the problems we will have to endure. So, as long as your car is enjoying regular maintenance and care, it will likely remain healthy.

According to many consumer reports, the average life of a vehicle spans 150,000 miles or eight years. There are plenty of well-built car models that can easily exceed this limit. However, you will only to able enjoy maximum value if you commit to your vehicle’s maintenance and care.

6) Improved mileage:

The more you care for your car, the more your car will return the favor. For instance, a well-maintained car will be extremely efficient in fuel consumption and will also minimize damage to the environment.

On the other hand, failure to get the vehicle regularly maintained or air-filters or motor oil replaced can lead to lower gas mileage. In other words, your car will break down more frequently and affect the engine. Consequently, you will need to fill the gas tank up more frequently, leading to loss of both money and time.

So, in order to avoid such a situation, you need to stick to your vehicle maintenance schedules. For the precise mileage value for your vehicle, you can refer to the car’s owner’s manual. Keep in mind that, as long as the vehicle is taken care of, the engine will be able to perform all its vital functions without stressing itself out.

7) Value retention:

Maintaining your vehicle will allow you to retain a greater proportion of its value. If you want to sell your car off in the future, you are bound to get a better price if it is in good condition.

A savvy used-car purchaser will be aware that the better the condition of the vehicle, the lower the chances of expensive problems in the future.

8) Satisfaction:

You cannot quite describe the ease of mind that comes with driving a car that you know you can depend on. As long as you are caring for your car in the way you should, you will be able to drive with safety and confidence.

Final Word

To sum up, preventative maintenance helps you maintain and even improve your vehicle’s functioning and safety, saves you money, and offers tremendous comfort and peace of mind.

To learn more about preventative vehicle maintenance or to schedule a maintenance session for your car, please feel free to reach out to us.

Here are a few resources that may be helpful:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires
https://www.nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips
https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/consumer-advisory-nhtsa-offers-summer-safety-road-tips