GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE

WHY IS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SO IMPORTANT?
Your vehicle is a very sophisticated and precise piece of machinery. Consequently, it must be properly maintained in order for it to operate properly. Whether you have a brand new vehicle or a used one, you can always extend its life and minimize visits to repair shops by practicing preventive maintenance. Unfortunately, too many people completely neglect their vehicles and as a result pay dearly for repairs that could have been avoided.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING BREAKDOWNS AND OTHER PROBLEMS
The following bits of advice represent the most common and crucial of the various preventive maintenance practices. By following these tips, you'll greatly cut down on visits to repair shops and nearly ensure long and trouble free driving.

Make sure you perform common services (i.e. oil change, tune-up, and lube job) in routine intervals. If you neglect any of these crucial items, your engine will not perform up to par and you'll cause unnecessary wear on key components.

Once a month, check key components of the engine cooling system. This involves checking the radiator fluid level, radiator hoses for cracks, and clearing away any debris from the front of the radiator. The radiator/cooling system must be functioning properly in order to keep your engine from getting too hot. Also, get in the habit of occasionally glancing at the engine temperature gauge while driving and checking that it's not reading beyond the normal zone.