Keeping up with vehicle maintenance not only helps keep you and your passengers safe, but it can save you big in the long run. Making time for service may seem like a pain, but it’s important for the overall health of your vehicle. Let’s take a look at some basic service you should consider.
Common Car Maintenance To-Dos
Change your oil
An oil change simply removes your old oil and replaces it with fresh oil. This process helps ensure your engine parts are well lubricated, preventing sludge buildup and overheating. Often your oil filter will be replaced during an oil change as well.
While the old adage requires you to change your oil every three months or 3,000 miles, today’s cars can generally go longer in between oil changes. That said, consult your vehicle’s manual and consider your driving habits. “Severe” conditions, like city driving, driving short distances, and driving in extreme temperatures will require more frequent oil maintenance.
Rotate your tires
A tire rotation is a basic service that often gets overlooked. As the name implies, this process involves moving the tires around. While this change seems subtle, it can actually help you better control your vehicle on the road.
Rotating tires means taking your rear tires and moving them to the front, and taking your front tires and moving them to the back. Often the rear tires will be switched, moving the back left tire to the front right and the back right tire to the front left. This simple change is designed to prevent uneven tread.
While a typical tire rotation should be done between every 5,000 or 7,500 miles, you should take a look at your car’s manual for more details. Another important reason to keep up with regular tire rotations is to protect the warranty on your tires.
Get a tune-up
Many drivers know about oil changes, tire rotations, and brake pad replacement, but a general tune-up is another important factor in keeping your vehicle on the road. A tune-up is designed to provide preventative maintenance, replacing parts that have begun to show wear.
Whether your car needs a new air filter, a spark plug cleaning, or a replacement oxygen sensor, a tune-up takes the time to evaluate important components. Technicians can even take a look at your vehicle’s brake system and clutch.
Schedule Service in Raleigh, NC
Looking for Nissan service in Raleigh, North Carolina? Head to the Fred Anderson Nissan of Raleigh Service Center for an oil change, brake service, and more. We even offer Nissan service coupons if you’re looking to save.