Do you have a car maintenance schedule?

If you own a car, you should have a car maintenance schedule. Regular service and maintenance can help keep your vehicle running in tip-top shape and prevent many costly repairs and severe damage down the road. Talk to your local auto mechanic at Christian Brothers Automotive and let them help you formulate a schedule that’s right for your car. Between your own research and their help, you can take care of your car for years to come.

What can you do?

Bring your car in for 60,000 and 100,000 miles service checks

Like going to the dentist every 6 months or scheduling a yearly physical, your car needs routine service every once in a while to keep it running at maximum efficiency. At 60,000 and 100,000 miles, bring your car into Christian Brothers Automotive for a check-up. Our ASE-certified technicians will examine the engine and take care of any minor issues.

Take care of oil leaks immediately

Have you noticed oil marks beneath your car? This could signal serious damage. If the seals are drying out or hardening, they will leak motor oil. This can cause catastrophic engine failure. Bring your car into Christian Brothers Automotive at the first sign of trouble to avoid expensive damage.

Keep up with a regular maintenance schedule

Each vehicle requires different maintenance services at different times. Small repairs like spark plug replacement, wire inspection, belt or timing chain service, fluid flushes and filter replacements can significantly improve your car’s performance. Bringing your car in for tune-ups can increase your miles per gallon (MPG) and keep your ride smooth and safe.

How to Create a 15 Car Maintenance Check List

Regularly maintaining your car’s current, safe condition is a great way to increase its life and value. However, it can be difficult to remember to keep up with scheduled maintenance. Here are five easy tasks you can perform monthly that will keep your car running smoothly:

1. Check tire pressure. Under-inflated tires increase tire wear and could cause accidents. Low tire pressure can also have an impact on gas mileage. Get a digital tire gauge and check each of your tires to make sure that they meet the manufacturer’s pressure levels. If levels are low, fill with a portable air compressor.
2. Check car fluids. Oil, power steering and brake fluids are all important aspects of ensuring that your vehicle runs smoothly. Take the time take inventory of their status so that you won’t find yourself in a situation where you are running dangerously low.
3. Check air filter. Changing the air filter is one of the easiest maintenance tasks you can request. The air filter cleans the air before it gets to the engine. Consult your owner’s manual for information about how often it needs to be replaced.
4. Maintain inventory. Life is unpredictable, and it’s important to be prepared. Make sure that your emergency kit has everything you need: jumper cables, flares and water. Ensure that you have spare fuses in the event that you have a blown fuse.
5. Tidy up! A clean car is a happy car. Do a quick sweep and toss out any debris that may have accumulated under seats or in nooks and crannies. Using a cloth, wipe down the dash and remove dust and dirt. Wipe down the interior windshield so that it is free of smudges or other visual obstructions.

How can your CBAC mechanic help?

• Confirm dates and mileage markers. If you have any questions or just want confirmation from a professional for when your car will be ready for various routine maintenance appointments, talk to your local mechanic. They’ll be familiar with what your specific vehicle needs—and when it will require each service.
• Ask for the stickers. Make sure you leave each service appointment with the windshield sticker that includes the date and mileage threshold for your next maintenance appointment.
• Check out the manual. All vehicles have a manual just for them, and these small books discuss the maker’s word on keeping your auto in top shape. A lot of drivers don’t know that these recommendations can vary substantially, so they end up relying on what potentially unscrupulous dealers say about the maintenance their auto requires. We know the correct specs for every auto we work on at Christian Brothers Automotive but you can’t trust all mechanics. If you do, it could thousands of extra dollars.
• Don’t forget car washes. Looking pretty is not the same as working properly when it comes to many things, but keeping your vehicle clean from roof to bumper to undercarriage is an important upkeep. If you don’t often go to the car wash, the residue will harm your paint and undercarriage.
• Make a checklist. It can be easy to skip auto maintenance work, but an easy way to plan for everything is to make a checklist of all the maintenance your auto requires right when you sign the title. Then, you can check off it all as your auto reaches. If a paper list isn’t for you, there are simple online or mobile apps.
• Keep a log. If you kept track of everything mechanical that is done to your auto, you will be better off you can use a list to track oil changes, and you can also track stuff like repairs and replacements with this simple trick. Tracking fuel and dipstick checks can help you track performance and will let you spot any issues early on.
• Determine how frequently your car requires an oil change. When taken care of on a regular basis, this routine appointment can help keep your car healthy. Check your owner’s manual for the mileage threshold for oil changes for your car’s specific make and model.

Helping drivers keep up with small, routine maintenance items is our specialty; we do it all the time. Minor maintenance repairs, although small, can make a big difference in how your vehicle performs. Call Christian Brothers Automotive to schedule your next automotive repair today! See the nice difference.