Keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance can is the automobile version of the old saying by Ben Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Some people, however, are unsure of what items are included in factory scheduled maintenance. Here is a list of some auto tasks that may need scheduled maintenance on your vehicle. For a complete and/or customized list for your vehicle, give us a call at 248-615-8964
Annual Inspections
Annual inspections is a very general term that is the equivalent of seeing your doctor for a health check up. Although you may not have anything wrong with you at the time, the doctor will still inspect you for potential problems.
The annual inspection that Automotive Techniques performs on your vehicle includes a stringent review of the interior and exterior components of your car. Hoses/pipes, hydraulics, speedometer, thermostat, and electrical components (including the battery) are just some of the 100+ items we check during the annual inspection. Inspection areas covered are vehicle undercarriage, engine compartment, body/electrical, and a final road test. Every vehicle that leaves our shop is thoroughly examined.
Oil Change
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year (or every 7,500 miles) in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months. If you read the fine print, however, you’ll discover that the once a year, 7,500 mile oil change is for vehicles that are driven under ideal circumstances. What most of us think of as “normal” driving (especially in Michigan) is actually “severe service” driving. This includes frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather), stop-and-go city traffic driving, driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.), and driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather. For this type of driving, which is actually “severe service” driving, the recommendation is to change the oil every 3,000 miles or six months.
As an engine accumulates miles, blowby increases. This dumps more unburned fuel into the crankcase which dilutes the oil. This causes the oil to break down. So if the oil isn’t changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear and all the engine problems that come with it (loss of performance and fuel economy, and increased emissions and oil consumption).
For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do. The high performance european engines that stop by Automotive Techniques are all fed with top of the line synthetic oil.
Brake Pads Inspections
Brake pads are a component of the brake disk system that are made of a friction material designed to clamp down on a rotor when squeezed by the caliper. Automotive Techniques is the best place to get your brake pads replaced. Click here to find out why!
Brake pads are designed to be effective, but unfortunately, they are not meant to outlast the other components on your car. Some vehicles include a brake pad indicator light, but the best indicator is knowing what to look and listen for. Worn brake pads in a car can present itself with a grinding noise (the caliper against the rotor). At Automotive Techniques, we check the condition of your break pads to give you an idea of when they will need to be replaced.
Air Filter
There are two types of air filters in your vehicle, and each play an important role (which is why they are on our factory scheduled maintenance list).
Internal: Internal air filters are designed to keep solid particulates out of the engine compartment. Having a blocked internal air filter can dramatically reduced engine operability and performance.
External: External air filters, also known as cabin air filters, keep the cabin (the inside of the vehicle where you drive) free from any dust or solid materials that may be flying around outside. Once these filters become clogged, you may be exposed to a variety of allergens (including dust) from the outdoors.
Give us a call today (248-615-864) to schedule an appointment and have us take a look at your air filters.
Brake Fluid Flush
Brake fluids are hydroscopic, which means they collect moisture. This moisture causes internal corrosion of the braking components. Moisture is especially destructive to anti-lock braking systems. Moisture in the braking fluid system lowers the overall boiling point which could lead to brake fade/failure in emergency braking situations.
Factory scheduled maintenance for brake fluids is every two years, regardless of milage.