Can regular auto service extend the life of your vehicle?

Consistently bringing your car in for service appointments can help you save money on potential repairs and ensure that all the features in your car continue to perform optimally. As if that weren’t enough, regular vehicle service appointments can also help prolong the lifespan of your car. Read on to learn more about the value of always taking your car in for its maintenance checkups.

What Is Regular Vehicle Maintenance?

Regular vehicle maintenance is a process recommended by most car manufacturing companies and service departments. It involves bringing your car in for a checkup on a regular basis to ensure that all its parts are in good condition and functioning at their best. The frequency of regular vehicle maintenance can vary based on factors like the car’s manufacturer and mileage. Most service departments recommend getting your car serviced every six months or for every 5,000 miles you travel.

When you bring in your car for a regular service appointment, the staff members at the service shop typically perform the following duties:

• Checking or increasing the tire pressure.
• Rotating the tires.
• Changing the oil and oil filter.
• Checking or replacing the air filter.
• Evaluating the quality and amount of other vehicle fluids, including brake, transmission, coolant, and windshield washer fluids.
• Assessing the belts and hoses in the engine bay.
• Checking the brakes for their resistance levels and any strange sounds.
• Eliminating any corrosion on the battery.

Most vehicle manufacturing companies also recommend that drivers take their cars in for service appointments when their vehicles reach certain mileage counts, such as 10,000 or 40,000 miles. For instance, your vehicle might benefit from getting various parts — like its steering knuckles or propeller shafts — lubricated every 10,000 miles. Take the time to review your car owner’s manual or talk to a specialist at your car dealership or service center if you have any questions about how often you should take your vehicle in for maintenance.

What Are the Benefits of Regular Maintenance?

When you take your car in for regular service appointments, both your car and your wallet will thank you later. Getting consistent service appointments can provide car owners with lots of great benefits, such as:

Spend Less on Repairs

Car repairs can be costly. Whether you need to get your brakes fixed or buy a new engine, these repairs or replacements are often several hundred dollars or more. In comparison, consistent maintenance appointments typically cost much less.

Reduce Fuel Costs

Regular car service appointments can also save you money at the pump. A well-serviced car can more effectively use every bit of gas within its fuel tank. By contrast, a car in need of a maintenance checkup typically has a less efficient fuel economy, so you might end up paying more for gasoline.

Save Time

Vehicle repairs aren’t only costly but time-consuming too. When your car needs repairs, it sometimes gets stuck at a maintenance shop overnight or even for multiple days or weeks, depending on how complex the fixes are. For people who rely on their cars for transportation, having a car stuck in an auto shop can cause more time spent using public transport or walking.

How Can Regular Vehicle Maintenance Help the Life Span of Your Car?

Whether you want to own your car for its entire life or sell it in a couple of years, it’s a good idea to do your part to give your car the regular maintenance it needs. Taking the time to get your vehicle in for regular maintenance checkups can help prolong its longevity. Here are the fundamental ways that consistent service appointments may be able to lengthen the lifespan of your car:

Minimize Repairs

When you consistently bring in your car for maintenance checks, you can limit the number of potential issues with your vehicle that could grow into larger problems. Whether those issues are with the tread on your tires or the battery power, this can help reduce the number of repairs your car needs. Your car is also less likely to break down on the side of the road if you bring it in for regular service appointments.

Optimize Performance

Bringing in your car for maintenance helps ensure that all the components of your vehicle remain in excellent condition, which can optimize the performance of your car. For instance, regularly changing your vehicle’s oil helps to keep the substance viscous, meaning that it has a thick and sticky consistency. Less viscous oil builds up condensation, which makes your engine operate more slowly. Making sure to change out your oil every six months, after you drive another 5,000 miles, or based on a different piece of advice from your car’s manufacturer can help contribute to your car’s overall power and efficiency.

Improve Safety

A key part of car maintenance checks is examining all features that help your car keep you, your passengers, fellow drivers, and pedestrians safe. During car service appointments, experienced technicians and mechanics look at your vehicle’s brakes, engine, tires, and other essential features that can protect you while on the road. In the long run, it’s usually safer to perform maintenance or replace these parts as needed to increase the vehicle’s safety and, in turn, its longevity.

Optimize Car Value

If you’re interested in eventually selling your car or you have a leased car, it’s important to know that getting regular service appointments can optimize the value of your vehicle. If you take your car in for consistent maintenance, you might be able to sell it for a good price down the road, as a well-maintained vehicle can have a higher value than less well-maintained vehicles of the same make and year.

Similarly, bringing your car in for regular service appointments is a good idea for those who are currently leasing a vehicle. Depending on factors like the terms of your lease agreement, the car’s value at the end of your lease agreement might change. If the car’s value ends up being more than the initially anticipated amount, you could get a refund.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning more about the various ways that getting regular car services can prolong your vehicle’s life span. Do you have other tips for how to make your vehicle last as long as possible? Let us know in the comments section of this blog. And if you have a question about car maintenance sessions or would like to book a service appointment, feel free to fill out our online form or make an appointment now.

Photo Credit: Image by Towfiqu barbhuiya is licensed by Unsplash License

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