What Preventive Maintenance in Fresno Is Most Important for My Car’s Longevity?

Whether you’ve just bought a new vehicle in Fresno, CA, or you’re still using an older car in Visalia, vehicular longevity is something most drivers have on their minds. Given enough time, your vehicle and the components it relies on will wear out. When that happens, you’ll need to buy replacement parts or even a new car.

The good news is that scheduling a few simple types of auto repair services in Fresno can significantly lengthen your car’s service life. In this article, we’ll look at the car preventive maintenance services that can provide these benefits.

Why Fresno Drivers Need Preventive Maintenance

As the name suggests, preventive maintenance is meant to keep your vehicle free from potential problems. By following the recommended service schedule provided by your car’s manufacturer, you can keep your vehicle running smoothly for years (or even decades) to come.

Like other forms of maintenance or repair work, preventive maintenance comes at a cost — but that doesn’t mean you can ignore it. After all, preventive maintenance is one of the best ways to avoid auto repair work later in your car’s life. And since those problems take a lot of time and money to resolve, it’s in your best interest to stick to your preventive maintenance schedule.

Prioritize These Preventive Maintenance Services

To keep your car in good shape for the foreseeable future, you’ll want to take preventive maintenance seriously. Some preventive maintenance services that should be part of your routine include:

Oil Changes

Motor oil plays an indispensable role in your vehicle’s engine — it’s responsible for managing engine heat and lubricating moving parts in your engine. But your oil will eventually collect dirt and debris; when that happens, it won’t function as effectively as it once did.

When that happens, you’ll need an oil change to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Still, the best oil changes involve more than simply removing your car’s old oil and replacing it with fresh oil. A full-service oil change should include:

•     New oil filter installation
•     Chassis lubrication
•     Vehicle inspection
•     Tire rotation (upon request)

Brake Service

When was the last time you really thought about your brakes? If you’re like most drivers in Fresno, the answer could be “not often.” Like most automotive systems, the brake system shouldn’t usually call too much attention to itself — but that won’t be the case when you encounter brake problems.

The good news is that regular brake checks can help extend the life of your car’s brake system. At the same time, these inspections allow preventative maintenance mechanics to catch issues with your brakes before they become worse. For most motorists, brake inspections should be taken care of every six months or 6,000 miles (unless you notice brake problems earlier than that, of course).

Tire Maintenance

Friction has an impact on countless auto components, but few car parts are more heavily affected by this force than the tires. While every set of new tires will eventually need to be replaced due to wear, preventive maintenance can go a long way toward extending your tire life span.

 When thinking about your tire maintenance needs, be sure to consider services like:

•  Tire rotation: A tire’s position on your car affects its wear rate. Because of that, tire rotation is a simple way to encourage even tread wear.
• Tire balancing: If your tires don’t weigh the same amount, you’ll have trouble driving safely and run the risk of uneven tread wear. Tire balancing — the installation of small weights on underweight wheels — can help.
• Wheel alignment: Tires that aren’t angled correctly relative to the road can affect your tire wear and gas mileage. A quick suspension adjustment from a qualified mechanic is all you need to alleviate this problem.

How To Know You Need Auto Service

In many cases, auto manufacturers encourage drivers to schedule oil changes every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. That’s a handy rule of thumb for planning oil changes, but your vehicle’s needs might be a bit different. If you commonly haul or tow heavy loads, take short trips, drive when it’s hot out, or rack up a lot of mileage, getting oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles might be ideal.

It’s best to follow the service schedule provided by your car’s manufacturer for other auto preventive maintenance services. Typically, manufacturers ask motorists to have certain auto parts inspected and replaced at the 30,000-mile, 60,000-mile, and 90,000-mile points. Your schedule may vary from these recommendations, so check your car’s manual to be sure.

Do You Need Service Ahead of Schedule?

No matter how attentive you are when it comes to preventive maintenance work, there’s always a chance that your car will run into unexpected problems — problems that might require automotive repair. You may need to visit a professional Fresno auto mechanic early if you pick up on these unusual signs:

• Feelings: When your vehicle feels different than usual while you drive it, there’s a good chance that something has gone wrong. Common issues in this category include acceleration trouble, steering wheel vibrations, rough gear shifts, and spongy-feeling brake pedals.
• Sounds: Have you been hearing high-pitched shrieks when you brake, sharp clicking noises, a low rumble, or any other unusual sounds? If so, it’s time to get your car looked at.
• Smells: An unexpected smell can be the result of car trouble. A burnt, bitter smell can indicate oil trouble, burnt toast odors can be traced to electrical shorts, and a sweet scent reminiscent of maple syrup can originate from a coolant leak.
• Sights: The most obvious visual indicator that something’s wrong with your car is an active check engine light. Beyond that, regularly checking for fluid leaks under your vehicle is wise.

Pick the Top Fresno Auto Shop

No matter what type of preventive maintenance or automotive repair services you need in Fresno, you can trust Goodguys Tires & Auto Repair to get the job done. As the region’s trusted auto shop, we employ ASE-certified auto mechanics, offer multiple convenient locations, and help customers save with our online coupons. Get started by scheduling preventive maintenance today!