So, you take your trusty steed into your repair shop for an oil change. We all know we need to change the oil in our engines regularly to ensure they last a long time and don’t break down on us. While your car is in the service bay, a good technician will inspect the vehicle and make recommendations based on his or her visual inspection of parts, fluids and components and some according to the mileage of the vehicle. Then the service advisor comes to you with a list of “maintenance” items that should be done. But your car is running fine, right?
Remember how you change your oil at regular intervals? There are specific recommendations that are made by each manufacturer that details what maintenance should be performed and at what mileage. These are based on testing they have performed and known information regarding the breakdown of the key ingredients and additives in the fluids. We suggest, at a minimum, that you follow the recommendations of the manufacturer to keep your vehicle in top running order and for maximum dependability. One thing to keep in mind is that the service recommendations from the manufacturer are the minimum recommendations.
There are also other fluids in your vehicle that wear out and must be changed periodically. Fluids in your transmission, cooling system, power steering, brakes and differentials that wear out and need to be changed just like your oil. While you don’t have to change these fluids as often, they do need to be changed to make sure you get the longest life possible out of your vehicle. Not getting these other fluids changed can also lead to additional repair costs as other components will wear out prematurely.
In addition to fluids, some parts need replacement. For example, there is now a cabin filter on most vehicles that filters the air that comes into your vehicle through the heat and air ducts. When this filter gets dirty or clogged, it will reduce the airflow and with that, the effectiveness of your heater and air conditioner. Sometimes this will even cause a musty smell and can damage the blower motor.
One of the most important maintenance items on many of today’s vehicle is the timing belt. If the belt is not replaced at the proper interval and breaks, major internal engine damage can occur, including bent valves and damaged pistons. These repairs can be 2 to 3 times the cost of just replacing the timing belt. The replacement interval varies with the manufacturer and can be anywhere from 60,000-110,000 miles. If you aren’t sure what your vehicle requires, call us and we’ll let you know if your vehicle has a timing belt and when it should be replaced. The timing belt should also be replaced when it is 10 years old, even if you haven’t reached the mileage interval.
One example of the power of maintenance is the customer who had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is not especially known for its reliability. This customer was very religious about getting all the recommended services completed on time. The Jeep had nearly 200,000 miles on it and still had the original transmission, differentials and fuel pump. Just so you know, the transmission and differentials are one of the weakest parts of the Jeep and they held up because the fluid was changed regularly.
This customer invested the money in to their vehicle and probably got an additional 3-5 years and 50,000-80,000 miles more out of the vehicle than if they had ignored the maintenance.
Here is a great benchmark; the average cost to maintain and repair a vehicle is $1,500-1,800 per year. We recommend customers budget approximately $100-150 per month, per vehicle, and this will get you at least in the ballpark for repair costs. Some years you’ll spend more, some less. Spending the money on maintenance will also help reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and unexpected repairs so that your bank account can remain in harmony with your vehicles’ needs.
