3 Things to Avoid Big Auto Repair Costs

Oil Changes Keep Your Engine Happy

You likely know that you should schedule an oil change for your car every 6-12 months depending on what type of car you have, among other factors that impact oil change frequency. Just by driving your car, your engine oil picks up contaminants that gradually make it more difficult to effectively do its job keeping your engine running. Even without use, or less use, engine oil will degrade with age, so no matter what your driving habits are, you’ll need an oil change from time to time. Waiting too long in between oil change appointments risks more serious engine damage or even engine failure if it goes too long.

Transmission Fluid Services Keep Your Transmission Healthy

Your transmission is just as important as your engine when it comes to keeping your car running and healthy. Every so often, your owner’s manual may call for your transmission fluid to be drained and replaced to ensure extra wear and damage are not being cause to the inner workings of your transmission. If you put this off too long, you’ll start to notice a rougher ride and difficulty changing or staying in gears. Plus, you risk having to deal with a costly transmission repair.

Keep Your Car Clean

A clean car is about more than just cosmetic appeal. While it’s definitely nice to have a shiny, clean car, it’s also helpful to include in your seasonal car care routine. It’s a good idea to check the cleanliness of certain parts, as well as maintaining a clean exterior.

Check on Your Battery

Take a look under the hood of your car. Make sure your car battery and its connections are all clean and free from rust or corrosion. If you do see buildup on the battery, you can quickly clean it off using a mixture of water and baking soda. This will help extend the life of your battery, ensure it’s able to properly charge, and that adequate power reaches other systems in your car from the battery.

Wash the Exterior – Including Underside

In every season, it’s a good idea to keep up with regular car washes. Whether you wash at home or go to an automatic carwash, make sure the underside of your car is included. Dirt, grime, and especially salt from the road can build up on parts under your car, all of which are made of metal. If it’s allowed to sit on those parts, salt will cause rust to grow, which will wear out those parts much quicker than they typically would.