Every January, many people resolve to improve their personal health and wellness. Unfortunately, many of them tend to ignore another facet of a healthy lifestyle – protecting some of their most valuable assets – their vehicles. With new car and truck prices averaging over $50,000, drivers need to keep their vehicles on the roads for as many years as possible.
The easiest way to way to maximize the life of a vehicle is to perform routine maintenance. To find out the best approach to vehicle upkeep, the Hendersonville Lifestyle team reached out to Christian Brothers Automotive of Hendersonville owner Matt Rucks to garner some of his expertise.
How should an owner approach vehicle maintenance?
“We recommend that drivers follow their car and truck manufacturers’ recommended maintenance schedules. After all, who knows the vehicles better than the ones who built them?”
What are some critical maintenance checks that owners should perform?
“Perhaps the simplest yet most important upkeep procedures are to change vital vehicle fluids at recommended intervals.
The most obvious, and perhaps most critical, fluid to maintain is engine oil – it is the life blood of the vehicle’s power train. Today’s vehicle engines employ sophisticated technologies such as variable valve timing, electronic cylinder management and turbochargers. Each of these systems rely upon a steady supply of clean oil in order to function properly. Without regular oil changes, sludge can build up in the engine, resulting in expensive and avoidable repairs.
Along with oil changes, owners need to monitor other vital lubricants, such as power steering, brake and transmission fluids. While these fluids typically have longer lifespans than engine oil, they still need to be changed when needed.
Power steering fluid lubricates the vehicle steering system, making driving safer and more responsive. However, over time, it will break down and begin to look and smell dirty. This causes the power steering pump to work harder, resulting in difficult control and possible unsafe driving conditions.
Similarly, clean brake fluid is critical for safe vehicle operation. Over time, brake fluid tends to become contaminated, which can damage calipers and brake lines and lead to expensive repairs.
Finally, fluids in the transmission, transfer case and differential also need to be changed at regular intervals. These fluids keep the gears and internal moving parts of your vehicle's drivetrain lubricated to avoid very expensive repairs and breakdowns.”
What are some routine vehicle winterizing recommendations?
“Automotive coolant is another vital component that needs to be checked on a regular basis. Coolant helps engines operate at safe temperatures by dissipating excess heat. It becomes acidic over time, which can damage components such as the radiator, thermostat, hoses and water pump. Owners should have their coolant checked before each winter.
In addition to coolant checks, we also recommend having vehicle batteries tested at the same time. Batteries generally last around five years, but they should be tested regularly to avoid having a stranded vehicle on the first really cold day of the year.”
What other things should drivers monitor in their vehicles?
“First, vehicle owners should have their tires rotated on a regular basis. Tire rotation will extend the life of the tires and it will maximize the ride quality.
Next, spark plugs generally need to be changed around the 100,000-mile interval. Drive belts should also be checked at the same time. Many vehicles also have engine timing belts. These belts should be changed per the manufacturers’ recommendations.”
Our final tip is simple – maintain your vehicles. Routine maintenance is far less expensive than repairs.”
Christian Brothers Automotive
563 East Main Street,
Hendersonville, TN 37075
615.942.0433