By now you’ve likely made (and broken) a few resolutions, but it’s not too late to add another one to your list – regular maintenance for your car. Proper and regular maintenance helps your car last longer, be more fuel efficient and prevents big repair bills. Your car’s manual will tell you how often you need an oil change, to flush the fluids and when spark plugs and belts should be replaced. In this month’s blogs we’re going to do a two-part series about car maintenance so you can plan for the costs you may have in the coming year.
Under the Hood
Maintaining everything under your hood will help your car last longer. When you take a few minutes every month to look under your hood, you can better know when you need to call your mechanic to take care of your car. Here are a few things to look at:
- Check all fluid levels and color – Your oil is the one you’ll need to change or top off most frequently and one most people check from time to time. However, don’t forget about the other engine fluids, they’re just as necessary and should be checked and changed. This includes your power steering, brake and transmission fluids.
- Inspect your belts – The belts in your engine wear out. When they become dry and cracked they break leaving you stranded. Look at yours and make sure they still appear in good condition.
- Air filters – Your car has one or more filters. They’re easy to check and replace on your own. If they’re not clean looking, you probably need a new one. Check your owner’s manual for locations (hint there might be one in your car’s interior compartment too).
We Can Help
If you’ve found any items that need attention, call the professionals at Oldsmar Automotive. We can schedule an appointment or provide you with an inspection of your vehicle and give you an estimate for repairs. If it’s regular maintenance like a fluid flush, just tell us the make and model of your car when you call and we’ll give you a price over the phone. Call (727) 784-3501 or stop by our facility at 3166 Tampa Road in Oldsmar.
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