With vehicles, there are two main reasons why it has to be brought into the shop: general catastrophe or routine maintenance. A general catastrophe would be something that would damage a vehicle very badly. But regardless of your vehicle’s accident history, your vehicle still needs routine maintenance.
Routine maintenance can consist of many things but it stands around a central premise: Every vehicle needs to be updated periodically as old parts wear out and new parts need to be put in. In this article, I’ll cover three of the main parts of routine maintenance for vehicles: brakes, tire rotation, and the oil change.
Brakes can last between 25,000 and 50,000 miles in a vehicle. When it comes to a brake inspection, it is important to look for the brake pads. There are two pads per rotor and each pressed against the rotor when the brake pedal is pressed. If brake pads are not replaced when they wear out, the brakes will squeal and wear down that much quicker.
Many manufacturers recommend replacing brake pads if there is 1/8 inch or less of the pad lining remaining. Or they recommend replacing them around every 25,000 miles. Routine maintenance of this type is important. Many situations can be avoided if proper care is taken, such as breakdowns being prevented by checking vehicles belts and hoses and replacing them if worn.
Tire rotations are necessary for a simple reason: Tires can wear down at different angles due to the friction caused by pressing against the road. By rotating the tires, it evens out of the friction levels, making the car easier to driver and allowing the tires to last longer.
A tire rotation should be done every 7,500 miles or as often as the manufacturer recommends. Sometimes choosing when to get your wheels aligned comes with the section following this one: the oil change. According to some research, vehicles with wheel alignment conditions can suffer a loss of up to 7% of fuel efficiency.
The last routine maintenance for vehicles covered in this section is the oil change. Experts recommend seeking out oil change services once every 5,000 miles or once every four months, though it’s important to take notice of your manufacturer’s recommendations.
Oil change services can vary according to location and city. Some choose to get their oil changes done at the dealer, as many other services can be bundled with that visit, including tire rotations. Others may choose small venues with oil change services that offer more than just an oil change. This may include vacuuming, wiping windows, or other services.
When it comes to your vehicle, getting routine maintenance is important for the life of your vehicle and the quality of its life when it is useful. Fuel efficiency, air filters, oil changes, tire rotations, all factor into how long your vehicle will run and how well it does when it is running.