Residents of Lone Tree are well aware of what winter brings for vehicle maintenance. While the snow is great to look at, it can wreak havoc on your car and cause costly repairs. Whether you live in an area affected by weather like Lone Tree or somewhere entirely different, vehicle maintenance is an absolute must. Here are 4 types of vehicle maintenance you should keep in mind all of the time.
1. Get Frequent Oil Changes
As simple as it may seem, a lot of people forget to routinely change the oil in their cars. Most newer vehicles have indicators on the dashboard of when it’s time to change the car’s oil. At the very least, you should have a sticker in your car from your most recent oil change. It’s important to stay up to date on oil changes to keep your car healthy and running well. Oil is of course what makes all parts of a car run together and it helps reduce any friction.
If you’re mostly a highway miles type of driver because you commute to Denver a lot, you should still try to get oil changes every 4,000 to 5,000 miles. Even highway travel will cause issues to your vehicle and you’ll want to change its oil frequently.
2. Keep An Eye On Your Brakes
Although you don’t need to change your pads and rotors as often as your engine oil, you do still need to keep an eye on your brakes. If you’ve noticed that your car is taking longer to stop, you may have an issue with your brakes. Perform a quick stop test at a stop sign or traffic light. Try slamming on the brakes (for testing reasons) to see how quickly the car reacts. If it seems like it is too slow and could mean safety issues, take your car into the shop to get the brakes checked out.
The great news with brake issues is that it’s typically replacing old pads and rotors. The total cost for this including labor is usually not too much.
3. Rotate & Balance Your Tires
Mileage on a vehicle means mileage on the tires. While most tires in 2021 are rated to go up to 70,000 or more miles, you have to consider where you’re driving. Again, highway miles are different from mileage on inner-city roads or in the mountains. In addition to mileage put on your tires, you’ll want to check the tread on a routine basis as well. Your tires should never be bald; if you notice they are looking really thin in terms of the tread, take them into the shop right away. Most places in Colorado will recommend winter-friendly tires.
4. Emissions & Smog Treatment
While Colorado doesn’t have a smog policy like California, it’s still important that your vehicle passes emission tests. Not only is this required to license the car in the state of Colorado, you also don’t want a vehicle that is actively polluting the environment. Most newer cars abide by EPA standards to emit lower levels of pollution. You’ll need to pass an emissions test every few years (depending on the vehicle) if not every year. If you see heavy amounts of smoke protruding from your exhaust, consider taking the vehicle into a shop.
Rinse & Repeat
Keeping your car healthy and operating smoothly doesn’t have to be hard. If you can stick to routine oil changes, check your brakes and tires, and stay on top of any emissions issues, your car will live a long life.