Fall Car Care
October is officially Fall Car Care Month. What does this mean for you? It is the automotive industry’s way of encouraging you not to put off routine maintenance or necessary repairs any longer!
Think about how often you see an ad or coupon for an oil change. We have them too now. Why? Yes, we want to earn your business, but it really is THE most important thing you can do at least twice a year.
Let me challenge you to think of the care of your car a little bit differently. Preventative maintenance is a term tossed around so much that we become numb to the idea. Let’s start to take the care of our vehicles way more seriously! Let’s think about this beyond being sure there is enough fuel in the tank or charge in the battery to get us to our destination! Let’s think about what we need our car to run flawlessly not just today or tomorrow, but next year. Let’s think about the opportunity to pass this well-maintained machine on to someone else when we trade it, sell it or donate it. Let’s think about the fact that we all have the ability to leave things better than we found them! Where am I going with all this thinking?
A PREEMPTIVE strike on car care! As much as we’d like to “gas ‘n go”; let’s isolate two days a year to help really keep your vehicle in the “gas ‘n go” phase all the time. There’s no better time than car care months! Has it been 5-6 months (or more) since your last oil change? Schedule yours today! While often when we think of oil changes, we think it must get done now, you could also consider the first Monday or the Third Thursday of April and October and put it in your calendar as a repeating event.
If you are a total rockstar (yay you!) when it comes to oil changes timely, and they occur at different times of the year, then consider if there was anything lingering from your last visit that hasn’t been addressed yet. Maybe you’re close to needing brakes now, or maybe you chose to wait on items that correlate to your vehicle’s recommended service. We often hear folks say, “I’ll do that next time”. If you have added an extra 15-30k miles without doing the factory-recommended services. Now is the time! Let’s be PREEMPTIVE to avoid slowly causing undo wear and tear on your vehicle.
Another big factor to consider; is when we have a well-maintained vehicle, as the car ages and really racks up the miles, it is just easier to work on in most cases. When our clients handle issues promptly, we are better able to quote and explain the scope of the work AND stay within those parameters. They avoid the more difficult conversation that involves other possible repairs because now something literally connected to the needed repair becomes an issue too.
For example, do you get your brakes replaced when recommended; or alternately, when you hear squealing or feel pulsing coming from your car? The first is typically a $200-$400 job. The latter can easily be $1000 or more if rotors, calipers, drums, bearings, etc. also must be replaced. While these parts do wear out over time too, it is not as common on well-maintained vehicles and certainly not common until the vehicle is higher mileage or is driven in a harsh manner or environment.
Lastly, check your battery (our summer heat is hard on them!) and tire pressure (including the spare); this can fluctuate with the change in temperatures this time of year. Chances are there is something we can help you tend to with your vehicle. Please reach out. We welcome all your questions and enjoy helping educate you on best practices for your specific vehicle.