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Car Care Tips

Make Your Car Last Over 10 Years

Modern cars can last well over a decade with proper maintenance. Compared with the cost of purchasing a new vehicle, it pays to make car care a priority. At Auto Express, our mission is to keep your car dependable, so you get the best value and mileage.

Regular maintenance costs a little in the short run but helps you retain your car's condition longer than motorists who don't practice automotive care. This comes in handy in the future when major automotive systems continue to operate. It also helps you prevent unexpected automotive repairs.

Regular maintenance is also great if you ever plan to sell your car, netting you a better sale price than a vehicle with little maintenance.

Follow the car maintenance tips below to keep your vehicle around longer.

Tips to Maintain Vehicle Health

Change Motor Oil

An oil change is an easy maintenance procedure that keeps engine parts lubricated and maintains fuel economy. Changing oil at recommended maintenance intervals prevents sludge build up and overheating.

Motor oil becomes abrasive and harms metal components if never changed. This costs you money and overall vehicle longevity. Stick to the maintenance schedule and your vehicle will thank you with better mileage.

Change Brake Fluid

Change brake fluid as directed in your owner's manual. Whenever you step on the brake pedal, brake fluid transfers the force to the brakes to slow or stop your vehicle. Recommended service intervals vary by manufacturer from every few years to once or twice during the life of the vehicle.

It's possible for brake fluid to lose its effectiveness or for leaks to occur. If you experience abnormal brake performance, make sure to have your car checked.

Check Coolant

Coolant or antifreeze prevents overheating and freezing of the engine's cooling system. Like brake fluid, recommended service intervals vary by manufacturer and can range from roughly a few years to a recommended check during every scheduled maintenance service.

Replace Brakes

Change brake pads and rotors based on usage and wear. Stop-and-go city driving wears brakes faster; replace pads when they have 1/4" or less left.

Check Car Battery

Batteries last 2-6 years, impacted by temperature and usage. Maximize life by keeping it clean, using the car regularly, and turning off lights when not in use.

Replace Headlights

Plastic headlights with protective film fade over time due to oxidation. Slow oxidation by parking in a garage. Replace headlights in pairs to ensure even brightness.

Change Air Filters

Replace engine air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles, especially in dusty areas. Cabin air filter improves air quality, check it during engine air filter service.

Change Oil Filters

Follow manufacturer recommendations in your owner's manual for oil filter replacement, which may vary by oil change or mileage interval.

Tires & Wheels

Check Wheel Alignment

Check your vehicle alignment to ensure you're getting the best life and performance out of your tires. You can throw a car out of alignment when you hit a pot hole or curb. If you notice irregular treadwear or experience your vehicle pulling to the left or right when you're trying to stay straight in a lane, you might need a wheel alignment to fix the camber, toe, and caster angles.

Rotate Tires

A tire rotation maximizes tire life by swapping the position of each tire on your vehicle. This is done because your vehicle doesn't distribute an equal amount of stress on each tire. By switching front and rear tires, you keep treadwear even.

Rotation patterns vary depending on your vehicle and tires. Rotating tires regularly means you won't have to worry about finding replacements at different intervals or contending with a performance decrease because your tires don't match in treadwear.

Take Care of Your Car So It Takes Care of You

Follow these tips and the service intervals listed inside your owner’s manual to guard against major repairs and unexpected failures. Proper vehicle maintenance:

Saves you money in the long run
Improves your safety and the safety of your passengers.
Retains manufacturer warranties
Increases vehicle life
Decreases the likelihood of an unexpected automotive repair

Stay on top of routine vehicle maintenance and make sure to visit Auto Express if you experience an automotive problem. We provide a variety of automotive services to Sacramento, CA.