Maintaining your vehicle is the most important thing you can do in order to preserve its lifespan and to get the most out of your vehicle before you eventually have to replace it with a new one. All vehicles come with a manufacturer’s book on scheduled maintenance requirements for your specific vehicle. Scheduled Maintenance may vary based on the type of vehicle you drive, but going by the book is always a smart idea. It will help you save money in the long run by decreasing the chances of costly breakdowns and worn out parts that could have been replaced before they damaged other parts within your vehicle.
However, many drivers do not follow a regularly scheduled maintenance program. A lot of drivers wait for a problem to occur before taking into the shop to have it looked at. Sometimes drivers completely ignore the problem until it gets to the point where it turns into an expensive repair job. For example, squeaky brakes that squeal when you come to a complete stop usually indicate some kind of brake or rotor problem. Although, you can probably drive your vehicle for awhile, the problem is only going to get worse over time. Some drivers that avoid squeaks, squeals, and other types of ratting noises in their vehicles are just asking for trouble. A brake failure can be a complete nightmare, costing thousands of dollars, when all you had to do was take your vehicle in for simple maintenance checkups and inexpensive repairs. Imagine burning out your brake pads to the point where you have metal grinding upon metal! Your rotors will become completely shot, burned out, and ruined when all you had to do was get the brake pads replaced at the scheduled maintenance interval listed within your manual. Fix small problems before they turn into big problems. Simple things like keeping the oil changed around every 3,000 miles and replacing your air filter will help your vehicle run more smoothly while preserving the lifespan of the vehicle over the long run. Always take note of any noise, clink, or clatter that your vehicle may be making, and always watch for warning indicator lights that may appear on your vehicle’s dashboard. Those lights are there for a reason, and ignoring them can mean big trouble! Below is a list of some basic scheduled maintenance you can perform on your vehicle, but remember every vehicle is different, and the mileage intervals may be different when it comes to replacing and fixing parts.
- Oil change-around every 3,000 miles
- Air filter change-every 3,000-6,000 miles depending upon your scheduled maintenance requirements
- Shocks and struts-around every 50,000 miles
- Coolant flush-around 50,000 miles
- Brake fluid flush-around every 30,000 miles
- Power steering flush-around every 30,000 miles
Your manual will also indicate when to get other things done, such as when to replace belts and hoses, transmission fluid, spark plugs, along with numerous other items. The above list is not intended as a “must do” for every vehicle, but just a basic, round about scheduled maintenance on most vehicles. Always be sure to check your manual and have a professional perform the necessary scheduled maintenance repairs in a timely manner. Cooper Service Inc. does scheduled maintenance on all types of vehicles, both automotive and diesel operated. Our professionals will always tell you if there are other problems with your vehicle during your scheduled maintenance appointment. Many times automotive service professionals will come across other potential problems you may want to have fixed on the spot before they turn into bigger problems over time. At Cooper Service Inc. we specialize in performing proper scheduled maintenance inspections and repairs so you vehicle is kept in top-notch running condition. Why let a small problem get out of control just because you have not followed the recommended scheduled maintenance manual provided to you by your car or truck dealership? Follow this manual, and come to Cooper Service Inc. when it is time to have a scheduled maintenance service repair or inspection performed.