You might be familiar with that quote. It’s often used by doctors who encourage their patients eat a healthy diet. Fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that prevent disease by boosting your immune system. People complain about the cost but fail to understand produce is cheaper than medicine.
What does this have to do with auto repair?
Everything! Vehicles also require essential nutrients to perform at their best. That doesn’t mean you should blend a head of lettuce and pour it into your gas tank (bad idea). But you should be mindful of your car’s fluid levels. I’m talking about motor oil, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid.
Preventive maintenance and Tune Ups
Your car doesn’t need to be “tuned up” (unless it is several decades old). Confused? I’ll explain. Old vehicles had engines made of mechanical parts like carburetors. They didn’t handle the stress of driving very efficiently. Mechanics needed to adjust or replace those parts every 6,000-12,000 miles. When the job was done properly, ignition wires buzzed in tune; hence the phrase, “tune up.” Today’s vehicles don’t need this.
Modern car engines are different
Car engines aren’t controlled by mechanical parts anymore. They are controlled by a computer. There is nothing to “tune up.” Auto shops still use the phrase because it sounds familiar. Your best bet is to prioritize preventive maintenance. How? Flip through the owner’s manual for your vehicle (OMV). Don’t have a copy? That’s okay! You can download an OMV for your make and model at Edmunds.
What’s the purpose of this activity?
I’m glad you asked. The OMV is a story about your car. It’s not as exciting as a thriller or romance or murder mystery, but you should still read it. You’ll find a diagram that shows you where important parts of your engine are located. Familiarize yourself with the fluids I mentioned earlier. Check their levels at the beginning or end of every month. You might catch a problem before it causes a breakdown, which would save you a lot of trouble.
Want to join the 200,000-mile club?
Oil changes and tire rotations are only a small part of maintaining a vehicle. Follow the maintenance schedule at the end of your OMV. Investing in those services can add years to your vehicle’s lifespan. Prevention sounds expensive, but neglect is worse. Look at it this way: Have you seen the price of a new vehicle? Versis the annual price of repairs and maintenance (which is about $1475). Which one looks like a better deal? The answer is obvious.
Have you ever put off a repair (and paid for it later)?
If so, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments. Maybe you’ll encourage others to be proactive about the health of their automobile.