Car Maintenance – Why Following a Schedule Matters

AAMCO Utah • April 17, 2018

We rely on our cars, to take us to work, for our errands, to take us on vacation, to transport our families – and cars are not cheap. Every car has it’s own factory recommended maintenance schedule that should be followed to ensure optimum performance and lengthen the life of your car. Regular car maintenance will not only lengthen the life of your car but also help with your overall fuel efficiency.

It might seem like an unnecessary cost when nothing is apparently wrong with your car, but following a regular car maintenance schedule will save you money in the long run by preventing problems before they happen and prolonging the life of your car.

A man is working on the engine of a car in a garage.

Regular Car Maintenance Services

Your car manual will suggest mileage intervals where your car should be brought in for maintenance.

This maintenance will include services such as:

Air Filtration Replacement Service
Fuel System Cleaning Service
Automatic Transmission Fluid Services
Full-Service Oil, Lube & Filter Change
Battery Maintenance Services
Light Bulb Replacement Service
Brake System Fluid Service
Serpentine Belt Replacement Service
Cabin Air Filter Service
Tire Rotation Service
Cooling System Service
Wiper Blade Replacement Service
Fuel Filter Replacement Service

Different Car Maintenance Needs

Different types of drivers may have different car maintenance needs. The experts at AAMCO Utah can help you identify which type of car maintenance schedule is best for your situation.

Severe Maintenance Schedule

Every car comes with a normal and a severe maintenance schedule. You need to be able to identify which schedule you need to be following in order to prevent wear and tear and extend the life of your car.

Some reasons to follow a severe maintenance schedule include:

If you live in a high humidly climate
If you live in a very dusty area
If you live in an area where it is regularly below 10 degrees or above 90 degrees
If you are driving a fleet vehicle or service vehicle that is seeing more use than an average car (i.e. police car, taxi, tow truck)
If you only take very short trips, or drive in stop and go traffic daily

High Mileage Maintenance

If you reach over 100,000 miles on your car this means you have done a great job at keeping up with your suggested car maintenance schedule. However, as your car gets older, and has more mileage on it, it will begin to need maintenance more often and you must be even more diligent about keeping up with car maintenance.

If you are over 100,000 miles you will need oil changes more frequently to keep your engine safe – about every 3,000 miles rather than every 5,000-7,000 miles. At this time make sure your mechanic is checking all fluids, your brakes, belts, and other hoses to stay on top of any developing problems

At 100,000 miles it is also time for a new timing belt if you did not replace this part at the 80,000-mile mark, as this crucial part needs to be replaced every 80k-100k miles.

Manual Transmission Car Maintenance

Back in the day maintaining a manual transmission car used to be considered easier than maintaining an automatic transmission car. However, these days the maintenance requirements are about even.

Manual transmission cars will typically need at least one clutch replacement throughout their lifetime, and it is important to watch out for warning signs that your clutch is beginning to slip.

Warning signs will include:

Your clutch is hard to press
Your clutch feels too soft
Your transmission won’t stay in gear
There are unusual noises coming from your transmission
You find it hard to shift gears

Truck Maintenance

Truck owners often put their vehicles through much harder use than an average car and therefore require more frequent maintenance to make sure they will continue performing for years to come. You should check all fluids in your truck on a monthly basis and ensure they are kept to the correct levels. You should also be sure to rotate your tires in conjunction with your oil changes, about every 3,000-5,000 miles and check your tire pressure on a monthly basis. When you visit the mechanic be sure they check your truck’s radiator.

An old dirty ford truck is parked in a grassy field

AAMCO Utah for Your Regular Car Maintenance

AAMCO Utah knows your car better than the dealership and we can service it for less. Don’t let your car maintenance schedule fall to the wayside, AAMCO Utah can help you maintain your car for its entire lifespan. Be sure to check out our money-saving special offers !

Whether your car is under warranty or out of warranty, if you are in need of regular services and factory scheduled maintenance for your vehicle schedule an appointment with your local AAMCO Utah location today.

Schedule Now

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The post Car Maintenance – Why Following a Schedule Matters first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.

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