We're lucky to live in an era filled with modern cars made to last. Top-notch auto parts mean that the average car works for about 200,000 miles. That's about 12 years for most people!
If you want to extend your car's lifespan, preventative maintenance is essential. Without it, you're going to face serious problems that drive your vehicle into the junkyard before it's time. Read on to learn how you can keep your car in top shape with the help of Killeen Auto Repair experts.
Check Car Fluids Regularly
While relying on the pros for preventative maintenance is always a good idea, there are a few things you can do at home. One of these is to check the essential fluids in your car frequently. You should be popping your hood to inspect these fluids at least once a month.
Your engine oil is the most important fluid in your car. It lubricates everything in the engine to keep things running smoothly, and you'll overwork and destroy your engine without it.
Take the dipstick out of the oil container, wipe it clean with a rag, and reinsert it. Pull it out and make sure that it's slick up close to the maximum indicator.
If it's at or below the minimum, put more oil in immediately. Then, take it to an expert to make sure your engine isn't leaking or burning oil. This could cause serious and costly problems if you don't get it looked at, and it can even destroy your engine.
Make sure that you check your coolant and make sure that it falls between the minimum and maximum indicators on the tank. Add a coolant that's approved for your vehicle if it isn't. Make sure to do this while the engine's cool so you avoid hot sprays and burns.
Check the brake and transmission fluid, too. Your tanks will have indicators that there's enough of these fluids. Just add more if you see that something's lacking, and you'll be good to go until your next professional car check-up.
Inspect Your Tires at Home
In between visits to the best tire shop Killeen TX has to offer, make sure that you keep your tires inflated appropriately. First, look closely at each of your tires and make sure there are no cracks or bulges in them. If there are, you could wind up with a flat or blowout.
Check the tire pressure levels with a gauge and make sure they're not underinflated or overinflated. If they are, add air or take it out. Most gas stations have little areas where you can pump air into your tires inexpensively.
Your car tires should be professionally replaced about every 6 years. Killeen Auto Repair's pros are happy to help you pick out perfectly fitting new tires and securely install them onto your car. This will prevent dangerous problems on the road and save you money in the long run.
Replace Your Air Filter
An air filter cleans out the air that blows through your car. It stops you from breathing in dust and debris from the outside. You also won't need to worry about smog or smoke from other cars while driving if you have a good air filter.
While you can technically change your car's air filter at home, this is a job best left to a mechanic in Killeen. If you do it wrong, you'll have dirty and polluted air running through your vehicle. This can cause coughing attacks while driving or other respiratory problems.
Also, a reputable mechanic will stand by their work. You'll have the guarantee of success, and you'll save time on car maintenance to boot.
The expert will pull the old air filter out of your car's hood in a way that doesn't disturb the electrical components around it. They'll then take a high-quality air filter and put it into the filter box. It's easy to put the fasteners back on securely afterward when they use professional-level tools, too.
Oil Changes, Tire Rotations, and Spark Plug Replacements
It's extremely important that you get both routine oil changes and tire rotations annually.
An oil change keeps your car's engine lubricated well. It stops friction between components that could pose a safety hazard. It also keeps your engine clean and protected.
You can't change the oil on your own. You likely don't have the tools and equipment to do the job correctly since you'll need to do a lot of work close to the engine. This could also be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, and you probably don't know exactly how much oil your vehicle needs (and where to put it) even if you take safety precautions.
Tire rotations are critical for tire alignment in Killeen Texas. You can have the mechanic swap tires to different positions with professional tools so they last longer. This can happen at the same time as your oil change and will make cornering and braking safer.
Replacing spark plugs is also a safety must. Spark plugs ignite your engine with a tiny electrical spark. You need to replace them periodically so they give off this spark at the perfect time.
Have an expert look at them and replace them periodically. This will keep them in long-term working order.
Get Professional Brake Inspection
Your brakes are possibly the single most important safety feature in your vehicle. Getting them inspected regularly ensures that they'll work to stop your car safely and avoid crashes. It also stops your brakes and the surrounding components from sustaining expensive damage.
A mechanic in Killeen will look over all the different parts of your brake system. They'll give you peace of mind when they let you know that it's good to go. They also will tell you when you need brake parts replaced so your car stays in top shape.
Work With Killeen Auto Repair
Now that you know how to stop wear and tear from scrapping your vehicle too early, it's time to get the preventative maintenance that you desperately need. Killeen Auto Repair is committed to providing affordable auto repair in Killeen TX so you don't need to worry about car problems getting worse.
Request an appointment for a routine oil change, brake replacement, or whatever else you need to keep driving smoothly along the Texas open roads.
We're lucky to live in an era filled with modern cars made to last. Top-notch auto parts mean that the average car works for about 200,000 miles. That's about 12 years for most people!
If you want to extend your car's lifespan, preventative maintenance is essential. Without it, you're going to face serious problems that drive your vehicle into the junkyard before it's time. Read on to learn how you can keep your car in top shape with the help of Killeen Auto Repair experts.
Check Car Fluids Regularly
While relying on the pros for preventative maintenance is always a good idea, there are a few things you can do at home. One of these is to check the essential fluids in your car frequently. You should be popping your hood to inspect these fluids at least once a month.
Your engine oil is the most important fluid in your car. It lubricates everything in the engine to keep things running smoothly, and you'll overwork and destroy your engine without it.
Take the dipstick out of the oil container, wipe it clean with a rag, and reinsert it. Pull it out and make sure that it's slick up close to the maximum indicator.
If it's at or below the minimum, put more oil in immediately. Then, take it to an expert to make sure your engine isn't leaking or burning oil. This could cause serious and costly problems if you don't get it looked at, and it can even destroy your engine.
Make sure that you check your coolant and make sure that it falls between the minimum and maximum indicators on the tank. Add a coolant that's approved for your vehicle if it isn't. Make sure to do this while the engine's cool so you avoid hot sprays and burns.
Check the brake and transmission fluid, too. Your tanks will have indicators that there's enough of these fluids. Just add more if you see that something's lacking, and you'll be good to go until your next professional car check-up.
Inspect Your Tires at Home
In between visits to the best tire shop Killeen TX has to offer, make sure that you keep your tires inflated appropriately. First, look closely at each of your tires and make sure there are no cracks or bulges in them. If there are, you could wind up with a flat or blowout.
Check the tire pressure levels with a gauge and make sure they're not underinflated or overinflated. If they are, add air or take it out. Most gas stations have little areas where you can pump air into your tires inexpensively.
Your car tires should be professionally replaced about every 6 years. Killeen Auto Repair's pros are happy to help you pick out perfectly fitting new tires and securely install them onto your car. This will prevent dangerous problems on the road and save you money in the long run.
Replace Your Air Filter
An air filter cleans out the air that blows through your car. It stops you from breathing in dust and debris from the outside. You also won't need to worry about smog or smoke from other cars while driving if you have a good air filter.
While you can technically change your car's air filter at home, this is a job best left to a mechanic in Killeen. If you do it wrong, you'll have dirty and polluted air running through your vehicle. This can cause coughing attacks while driving or other respiratory problems.
Also, a reputable mechanic will stand by their work. You'll have the guarantee of success, and you'll save time on car maintenance to boot.
The expert will pull the old air filter out of your car's hood in a way that doesn't disturb the electrical components around it. They'll then take a high-quality air filter and put it into the filter box. It's easy to put the fasteners back on securely afterward when they use professional-level tools, too.
Oil Changes, Tire Rotations, and Spark Plug Replacements
It's extremely important that you get both routine oil changes and tire rotations annually.
An oil change keeps your car's engine lubricated well. It stops friction between components that could pose a safety hazard. It also keeps your engine clean and protected.
You can't change the oil on your own. You likely don't have the tools and equipment to do the job correctly since you'll need to do a lot of work close to the engine. This could also be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, and you probably don't know exactly how much oil your vehicle needs (and where to put it) even if you take safety precautions.
Tire rotations are critical for tire alignment in Killeen Texas. You can have the mechanic swap tires to different positions with professional tools so they last longer. This can happen at the same time as your oil change and will make cornering and braking safer.
Replacing spark plugs is also a safety must. Spark plugs ignite your engine with a tiny electrical spark. You need to replace them periodically so they give off this spark at the perfect time.
Have an expert look at them and replace them periodically. This will keep them in long-term working order.
Get Professional Brake Inspection
Your brakes are possibly the single most important safety feature in your vehicle. Getting them inspected regularly ensures that they'll work to stop your car safely and avoid crashes. It also stops your brakes and the surrounding components from sustaining expensive damage.
A mechanic in Killeen will look over all the different parts of your brake system. They'll give you peace of mind when they let you know that it's good to go. They also will tell you when you need brake parts replaced so your car stays in top shape.
Work With Killeen Auto Repair
Now that you know how to stop wear and tear from scrapping your vehicle too early, it's time to get the preventative maintenance that you desperately need. Killeen Auto Repair is committed to providing affordable auto repair in Killeen TX so you don't need to worry about car problems getting worse.
Request an appointment for a routine oil change, brake replacement, or whatever else you need to keep driving smoothly along the Texas open roads.
