Preventative Maintenance – A Year-Round Consideration
July 2016 Auto Tip from Courtesy Buick GMC
Summer is coming to a close and many families are looking to take one final road trip before school starts. To stay safe on the road, it is important to make sure your vehicle is in optimal shape for a road trip.
Sam Norris, the Service Manager at Courtesy Buick GMC, recommends that vehicle owners do the following before any road trip:
Check All Fluids (Make sure they are at the manufacturer recommended levels)
Set the Tires to the recommended tire pressure (Usually found on the driver’s door post)
Make sure you are up-to-date with all recommended routine maintenance
A car is one of the largest financial investments an individual makes. All auto experts, anyone who has ever worked on cars, and most vehicle owners agree that regular routine maintenance is the best thing you can do to protect your investment. Unfortunately, there is often disagreement and confusion on what maintenance should be performed and when.
Before simply sticking to the typical recommendation of an oil change every 3,000 miles be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for its recommended maintenance schedule. If you do not have your owner’s manual or feel it is too cumbersome to keep track of its maintenance schedule be sure to visit a certified and reputable service department. Many quality dealer service departments, like the one at Courtesy Buick GMC, will contact you with reminders when your vehicle is due for service – taking a few things off your already over-flowing plate.
It is often said that regular maintenance – much like preventative care in medicine does for improves your health—increases the life of the vehicle and improves its overall performance. Sam Norris, Service Manager at Courtesy Buick GMC also points out that performing manufacturer recommended maintenance will also “save you money and even from facing inconvenient delays during every day travel and during a road trip”.
Some of the most common issues that Sam Norris at Courtesy Buick GMC has seen that could have been prevented by regular maintenance:
Clogged radiator or low fluids causing an engine to overheat
Low Tire Pressure Causing a Blow Out
There are a number of regular maintenance items that all vehicles need:
Oil Changes
Tire Maintenance including Air Pressure, Rotations & Alignments
Change Filters
Maintain Fluids
Check and Change Spark Plugs as required
Watch the timing belt or chain
Combat Rust
Routine Comprehensive Vehicle Inspections
Sam Norris, Service Manager at Courtesy Buick GMC offers a single pivotal piece of advice to have your vehicle healthy, and road-trip ready 365 days out of the year:
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance requirements; they know your car best!” – Sam Norris, Service Manager at Courtesy Buick GMC
Maintenance considerations are best accomplished by developing and maintaining a relationship with a reputable service department. Service departments will keep up with your maintenance schedule to help you keep your vehicle in road-ready shape, and prevent voiding your warrantee.
It is my preference to take my vehicle to a dealership I trust. Courtesy Buick GMC is an excellent and convenient dealership right here in Trussville. Even if you do not drive a Buick or a GMC they will be more than happy to service your vehicle.
Courtesy Buick GMC offers a complimentary vehicle inspection with every service. This complimentary vehicle inspection includes: Setting your vehicle’s tire pressure, checking its fluids and topping off any that are low, checking oil level, cleaning the inside and out of the windshield, and visually inspecting the exterior of the vehicle for any major issues.
If you want to keep your vehicle in its best possible shape; your best bet is taking it to an authorized dealer’s service department and follow the recommended maintenance plan in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.