July 2nd is “I Forgot Day!” At AA Muffler & Brakes, we know how easy it can be for basic car maintenance tasks to slip our minds. Especially when it’s summertime, and you have much better things to do than worry about taking your car into the shop for a routine inspection. However, it is important not to forget about these five maintenance tips because they will help you avoid costly, and often unnecessary, car repair services.
Oil Changes
Maintaining your car with regular oil changes can help to extend the life of your vehicle. Most manufacturers recommend you change your oil every 3-5,000 miles, but for some, it’s more convenient to change their oil every 10,000 miles instead. Whatever your preference is, AA Muffler and Brakes has a solution and with every oil change you have the option to have a full inspection performed! As part of the optional inspection, we will check to see if your vehicle is due for any regularly scheduled maintenance and whether we notice anything of concern.
Fluids
Your car’s major performance systems, such as brakes and transmission, need to stay well lubricated to function properly. Every car owner should make it a habit to regularly check their car’s power steering, transmission, brake, and coolant levels. AA Muffler and Brakes offers total system flushes and lube, oil, and filter services. We’re also available to answer any questions you may have about recommended fluid levels and maintenance habits.
Tire Pressure
It’s important to check your tire pressure regularly because, as much as we would like to think so, we can’t judge the amount of air in our tires just by looking at them. Once a month, you should use a tire pressure gauge (you can find one at gas stations and local hardware stores) to check your tires, especially during the winter months.
Tire Rotation
Protect your tires from uneven wear and tear by having them rotated every 5-10,000 miles. Maintaining a regular tire rotation schedule will extend the life of your tires as well. AA Muffler and Brakes provides free tire rotations every 5,000 miles with the purchase of new tires!
Check Engine Light
Bring your car into AA Muffler and Brakes for an inspection if you see your Check Engine Light turn on. It’s never a good idea to ignore it or assume it’s a non-threatening issue. Often, the Check Engine Light turns on at the early stage of a potentially major issue so don’t ignore it! Bring your car in immediately to avoid a minor problem evolving into a costly one.