How Often Should You Have These Routine Auto Maintenance Services Performed?

Being proactive with your car care can help you save thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your vehicle. By taking the time to take care of your vehicle, and stay ahead of potential issues, you can help stave off expensive repairs and replacements down the road. You don’t have to be a mechanic to keep your car running smoothly. Here at Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, we can quickly and easily take care of all of your car care needs in one stop. Come into your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers to meet with one of our expert tire or automotive service technicians today.

Brakes

Your brakes are comprised of a few components: brake calipers, brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid. Each of these components needs to be replaced over time, though your brake calipers and rotors can last most of your car’s lifespan — if you take care of your brakes properly. Your brake fluid should be checked during your regular oil changes and will need to be changed once every 4-5 years or so.

Brake pads will usually last anywhere between 25,000 and 75,000 miles depending on your vehicle type, how hard you ride your brakes, and the brake pads you use. If you have an accident or leave your brake pads on until they are completely worn through, you may need to even replace your entire rotor. You can easily avoid this larger expense by taking care of your brakes and making sure that your brake pads are up-to-date.

Filters

There are three main filters in your vehicle: air filter, oil filter, and fuel filter. Each of these filters serves a unique purpose in your vehicle, but they each work to cleanse and purify what goes into your vehicle. Your air filter works to remove dust, dirt, and debris from entering your engine. The average car sucks in roughly 9,000 gallons of air for each gallon of fuel burned. The sheer quantity of air that passes through your engine makes it immensely important to have a functioning and quality air filter. You should have your air filter checked every time you get an oil change, but you should expect to change it out every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.

Oil and fuel filters help keep damaging dirt and debris from entering your engine. You should examine your oil filter each oil change and replace it every oil change, or every other oil change, at the most. Your fuel filter, on the other hand, should last significantly longer. Your fuel filter will need to be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.

Tires

Most tires are expected to have a lifespan between 25,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on road conditions and the type of tires you have. You can always consult your owner’s manual to get more detailed timelines. And, make sure you regularly have your tires rotated to further extend their lifespan.

Wheel Alignment 

If you have a new vehicle, you should get your alignment checked after three months, as your suspension should have settled after that point. If your tires are looking straight and your vehicle is driving perfectly, your alignment is probably perfect. Regardless of how straight your wheels may look, you should get an alignment check annually.

Fluids 

Besides your engine oil, you need to change out a wide variety of fluids in your vehicle, including transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Your transmission fluid and power steering fluid needs to be changed every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the type of vehicle you drive. Your coolant and brake fluid should be changed every two to three years in order to keep your car running well.

Wiper Blades

If you have noticed any streaking or any lack of clarity on your windshield, it is time to change your wiper blades. We recommend that you change your wiper blades every six to 12 months.

You can easily get all of your vehicle’s care needs taken care of in one quick trip at your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers. Come in today to have one of our expert tire or automotive service technicians get your vehicle ready to handle anything the roads can throw at you this summer!