Regular Car Maintenance

People who really care about their cars never miss an oil change, tire rotation, or regular tune-up. Usually, the cars that get regularly maintained will last longer than the owner has the car for.  People who tend to skip oil changes or other regular car services end up paying more for repairs or junking their car then they would have if they were to take care of their vehicles properly while they owned them.

Oil Changes

An oil change is the most commonly served car maintenance at any mechanic shop.  All they are doing is putting your car up on a lift, draining out all of the old and used oil, closing up the oil pan, and refilling with fresh motor oil.  Usually you’ll get an oil filter with these services as well.  A cheap oil change can cost as little as $13 while a synthetic oil change could possibly run closer to $100.

Tire Rotation

The tires in front of your car will have different wear and tear than the tires in the back.  This is because of the turning mainly.  When you turn your car while driving, the tread on the inside or outside of your tire will wear down quickly.  If you have a rear wheel driving car, the back tires will go bald more quickly than a front wheel car. Rotating the tires will increase the life of your tires and also provide better gas mileage.

Brake Service

It is important to get your brakes checked every oil change, or at least every other oil change.  You can extend the life of your entire braking system if you find a small problem early.  Lots of auto service shops offer deals on brake fluid changes, that work a lot like oil changes.  There is more work and tools involved, so it costs a bit more than an oil change, but is just as important.