How to keep your car reliable and safe without breaking the bank
How to keep your car reliable and safe without breaking the bank
Posted?February 24, 2022 by?J'aime Davis
RepairPal?and?Spiffy — On-Demand Car Care?have teamed up to give you the latest article, “How to keep your car reliable and safe without breaking the bank”. Read here: https://bit.ly/35oCJTE #spiffy?#repairpal?#maintenance?#autocare?#fairrepair
Purchasing a car is one of the most significant investments you'll make, so maintaining it is not something you should ignore - doing so can get expensive. Performing routine, preventative maintenance ensures that your vehicle remains safe to drive, that it retains its resale value, and that the warranty remains valid.
What's so important about vehicle maintenance??
Maintenance service is like a wellness visit - it doesn't mean that something is wrong with your car and in need of repair, but a reputable service provider knows what to inspect to ensure you are not faced with hefty repair costs down the line. In some cases, there might be things you might not see or hear - or even worse - a safety hazard, which left unchecked would cost you more money to fix in the long run and shorten your car's life span.
For optimal performance and the safety of your vehicle, proper maintenance is essential. These days, you can make your car last to 200,000 miles and beyond by keeping up with maintenance needs for 10 to 15 years.
How often does your car need maintenance??
Make it easier to minimize your repair bills and save money by staying up to date with maintenance. It's best to refer to your?owner's manual?for your manufacturer's defined?maintenance schedule, but with driving frequency and conditions back to normal, here is a good rule of thumb for the amount of maintenance and repair you should plan for:
How driving conditions affect your maintenance schedule
When it comes to lifecycle maintenance, you need to consider?how?you drive your car. "Tune-ups" are all but gone as manufacturers and mechanics move away from strictly mileage-based schedules as a car's lifestyle.
Manufacturers define your car's?maintenance schedules?and prescribe different ones for "normal" and "severe" driving conditions. Your driving falls under the "severe" driving category if you:
All of these things will require more frequent trips to the shop to maintain your vehicle and keep it safe. There are also certain instances outside of "normal" driving conditions when you should have your mechanic inspect your car:
Common Maintenance Intervals for Your Vehicle
Service intervals may vary between auto manufacturers, so please consult your owner's manual for service information related to your specific vehicle. Your particular driving conditions should also be considered, but here is a general idea of what services you should expect to see for "normal" driving for 150,000 miles:
Every 10,000 Miles or Six Months
This service generally involves an?oil and filter change,?tire rotation, and a safety inspection. While changing the oil, your mechanic will perform visual checks of the?brakes,?belts, and?hoses, inspecting for any?fluid leaks, listening for any?abnormal noises, and paying attention to any irregularities in the vehicle's operation.
Early Lifecycle: The First 50,000 Miles
10,000 miles?- If you have your vehicle serviced at the dealership, have them also check and perform any unaddressed recalls for your make and model.
20,000 miles?- It's not uncommon for your vehicle to need a?brake pad replacement?at this mileage. Some cars may need to have their tires replaced depending on their usage.
30,000 miles?- You may start seeing some fluids replaced, such as the brake fluid, engine coolant, and transmission fluid. It can also include the replacement of?spark plugs,?air filters, and?fuel filters.
40,000 miles?- It's not uncommon for certain aspects of your vehicle, such as drive belts and hoses, motor mounts, and suspension bushings, to start showing signs of wear. Oil leaks may begin to appear as well. Check out RepairPal's?Common Problems?page for your vehicle so you can have some idea as to what the future may hold for you and your vehicle.
On some vehicles, you are nearing the end of your warranty period. You should pay close attention to the operation of your car and have any issues addressed while the warranty is still valid. If you have your service performed at a dealership, have them check and perform any open?recalls?on your vehicle.
50,000 miles?- At this stage, your vehicle should be nearing the end of its warranty unless you have an extended warranty or purchased a used car. This may not apply to some vehicles' drivetrain and emissions warranties. It's a good idea to have your vehicle inspected and any problems addressed before the warranty is expired!?
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Mid Lifecycle: 60,000 to 100,000 Miles
60,000 miles?- You may start seeing the replacement of additional fluids like the automatic transmission fluid (and filter, if equipped), engine coolant, and differential fluid. Additionally, drivers can expect the following:
Some additional repairs that may be necessary include:
70,000 miles?- It's not uncommon for certain aspects of your vehicle, such as drive belts and hoses, motor mounts, and suspension bushings, to start showing signs of wear. Oil leaks may begin to appear as well.
80,000 miles?- This service generally involves an?oil and filter change,?tire rotation, and a safety inspection. While changing the oil, your mechanic will perform visual checks of the brakes, belts, and hoses, inspecting for any fluid leaks, listening for any abnormal noises, and paying attention to any irregularities in the vehicle's operation.
90,000 miles?- You may start seeing the replacement of additional fluids like the automatic transmission fluid (and filter, if equipped), engine coolant, and differential fluid.?Some additional repairs that may be necessary include:
100,000 miles?- It's not uncommon for certain aspects of your vehicle, such as drive belts and hoses, motor mounts, and suspension bushings, to start showing signs of wear. Oil leaks may begin to appear as well. Your next service may be quite expensive, so we recommend not putting off repairs until then if you wish to avoid a very large repair bill.
Later Lifecycle: 100,000 to 150,000 Miles and Beyond
110,000 miles?- If your vehicle was supposed to have the timing belt replaced and it wasn't, then it is likely running on borrowed time from an expensive fate. Please make sure you didn't miss this service!?
Depending on your vehicle, after 100,000 miles is when you start seeing the benefits or pitfalls of proper maintenance. A properly maintained vehicle may need brakes or minor repairs, whereas a car that has been neglected can be confronted with repairs totaling in the thousands of dollars.
Your next service may be quite expensive, so it's a good idea to have any recommended work performed to prevent a huge repair bill next time in the shop.
120,000 miles?- This service generally involves the replacement of fluids like the?automatic transmission?fluid (and filter, if equipped), engine?coolant, and differential fluid.?Some additional repairs that may be necessary include:
130,000 miles?- You have already started seeing the benefits or pitfalls of proper maintenance at this mileage. A vehicle adequately maintained may need brakes or minor repairs, whereas a car that has been neglected can be confronted with repairs totaling in the thousands of dollars.
140,000 miles?- Similar to other 10,000 mile check-ins, this service generally involves an?oil and filter change,?tire rotation, and a safety inspection. While changing the oil, your mechanic will perform visual checks of the brakes, belts, and hoses, inspecting for any fluid leaks, listening for any abnormal noises, and paying attention to any irregularities in the vehicle's operation.
150,000 miles?- You may see some fluids replaced, such as the brake fluid, engine coolant, and transmission fluid. It can also include the replacement of spark plugs, air filters, and fuel filters.
It's more convenient than ever to get your car service from services like?Spiffy?who meet you where you are at for maintenance and light repair. Spiffy can also help your car look nice with car wash and detail services that help?extend the life of your paint. If they find something significant that needs repair, they will refer you to a high-quality shop in the?RepairPal Certified Network!
Written by?J'aime Davis
Jaime Davis is the Director of Marketing at RepairPal. When she's not connecting consumers with RepairPal certified trustworthy repair facilities she usually can be found watching the Real Housewives living their best lives on TV.
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