Maintenance and service required by Milage
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Vehicle maintenance procedures can be complex, but lack of proper maintenance can result in costly or irreparable damage. The specific maintenance schedule required depends on your make, model and driving style; however, you can follow a general maintenance guide to stay on track and keep your car in top condition. Here's a breakdown of the services you need based on mileage, brought to you by the experts at Chapel Hill Tire.
Services Needed Every 5,000 – 10,000 miles
Oil change and oil filter replacement
For most vehicles, you will need an oil change between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. Your filter will also need to be replaced to protect your engine. When you change your oil, a professional mechanic will give you an idea of when you need our next oil change. Many newer vehicles also have internal systems that notify when the oil level is low.
Tire pressure check and refueling
When the air level in your tires gets low, your car becomes less fuel efficient and your rims become more vulnerable to road damage. Unless your tire is damaged, it is unlikely that any drastic change in tire pressure will occur over time. The intensity of a tire pressure check often follows the same procedure as an oil change, so you may want to combine these services. Your mechanic will check and fill your tires as needed at every oil change.
Tire rotation
Because your front tires absorb the friction of your turns, they wear quicker than your back tires. Regular tire rotations are needed to protect your set of tires as a whole by helping them wear evenly. Aa a general rule, you should get your tires rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles.
Services required every 10,000-30,000 miles
Replacing the air filter
Your vehicle’s air filter keeps debris out of our engine, but they become dirty over time. This puts unnecessary and harmful stress on your engine if left unchanged. Roughly speaking, your air filter will need to be changed between 12,000 and 30,000 miles. The gap seen here is caused by the fact that air filters will need to be changed more frequently for drivers in big cities and drivers who frequent dirt roads. Your mechanic will also check the status of your air filter during an oil change and let you know when it needs to be changed.
Flushing the brake fluid
Keeping up with brake maintenance is essential to keeping you safe while on the road. Reference your owner’s manual for your brake’s needed care routine. This service is often recommended as early as 20,000 miles.
Replacing the fuel filter
The fuel filter protects the engine from unwanted debris. Refer to your owner's manual for specific information on your vehicle's fuel filter replacement procedures. This service often starts as early as 30,000 miles.
Transmission Fluid Service
Your transmission is easy to care for and expensive to replace, so it's important to ensure your vehicle's transmission fluid is flushed when necessary. This service is much faster for manual transmissions than for automatic ones; however, both of these types of vehicles may need a transmission fluid flush after approximately 30,000 miles.
Services required every 30,000+ miles
Brake pad replacement
When your brakes wear out, they won't be able to provide the friction needed to slow and stop your car safely. Brake pads can last up to 50,000 miles, but you may need to replace before that. Keep an eye on the width of your brake pads or ask an expert when you might need to change your brake pads.
Battery Replacement
While it can be inconvenient when your battery dies, it's good to know when you should expect a replacement. Your car battery often lasts between 45,000 and 65,000 miles. Servicing batteries can help them last longer.
Coolant flush
The coolant in your engine prevents it from overheating and causing costly damage. You should schedule a coolant flush between 50,000-70,000 miles to protect your engine.
Vehicle services as needed
Rather than following a specific maintenance routine based on miles or years on your car, certain vehicle maintenance services are completed as needed or as preferred. Here are the services that you should keep an eye out for and the symptoms that they are needed.
- Tire balancing – If your tires are out of balance, it will cause shaking in the tires, steering wheel and vehicle as a whole. Tire balancing can solve this problem.
- New Tires – Your tire change schedule happens as needed. When you need new tires depends on the road conditions in your area, the types of tires you buy, and more.
- Wheel alignment – Alignment keeps your vehicle’s wheels pointing in the right direction. You can get a free alignment inspection if you think you may need this service.
- Windshield wiper replacement – When your windshield wipers become ineffective, visit a maintenance professional so that you can stay safe during adverse weather conditions.
- headlight restoration – If you’ve noticed your headlights dimming, visit an expert for headlight restoration.
- Wheel/rim repair – Often needed after a crash, pothole or traffic accident, a wheel/rim repair can save you a costly replacement.
- Maintenance – In addition to basic fluid maintenance options, some maintenance flushes can be performed as needed. The better you take care of your car, the longer it will last.
A car service specialist will let you know when you need a specialized service. Regular adjustments will help you keep up with the necessary car care.
Visit Chapel Hill Tire
Chapel Hill Tire is ready to meet all your vehicle maintenance needs. Visit one of our 8 Triangle locations to get started today!
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