MAINTENANCE
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your vehicle on the road for 100,000 miles or more. Most people know to have the oil and oil filter changed in their vehicle but what about the rest of the fluids in your vehicle? Just like the oil in your vehicle all the fluids degrade over time and should be checked and changed regularly.
What about your tires? Do you know how often to have them rotated or replaced? What about brake pads and rotors?
Below is a general schedule and description of the maintenance services you should have done on your vehicle.
SERVICE MAINTENANCE
Service Maintenance refers to the service items that should be addressed at specific mileage intervals. Below is a basic time line and description of each service.
Brake Fluid Exchange
Exchange old brake fluid with new fluid. Includes bleeding brakes when necessary.
Every 3 years or 50,000 miles
Coolant Flush
Flush old coolant out of radiator and replace with new.
Every 5 years or 100,000 miles
Fuel System Tune
Includes cleaning the throttle body and intake, flush fuel rail and injector screens, clean injectors, and check fuel pressure and volume. Removes carbon from fuel system.
Every 30,000 miles
Power Steering Fluid Exchange
Exchange old power steering fluid with new fluid.
Every 3 years or 60,000 miles
Spark plugs
Includes changing spark plugs, wires, and/or ignition coil boots depending on your vehicle.
100,000 miles or sooner depending on spark plugs installed by your vehicle manufacturer.
Transfer Case Fluid Exchange
Exchange old transfer case fluid with new fluid.
Every 50,000 miles.
Transmission Fluid Exchange
Exchange old transmission fluid with new fluid.
Every 50,000 miles.
Not all vehicles have serviceable systems so consult your Vehicle Owner's Manual for more information.
VEHICLE SERVICING
If you are taking your vehicle in for just an oil change every 3,000 - 5,000 miles, or when the reminder light comes on, you are doing yourself and your vehicle a disservice! At Old 40 Auto Care we don't do oil changes, we service your vehicle.
Service (Oil and Filter Change)
Drain old oil and replace with new oil. Remove old oil filter and replace with new filter.
Includes a vehicle health evaluation. Vehicle health evaluation is a test drive, and visual inspection of battery, belts, brakes, exhaust, filters, fluids, hoses, lights, shocks/struts, tires and windshield wipers by a certified technician.
Every 3,000 - 5,000 miles or every 5 - 6 months depending on vehicle use and age.
Why do the techs do all of this on every vehicle that comes in for service?
Keeping you safe on the road is our #1 priority. Our vehicle health evaluation, ensures our customers are aware of maintenance or repairs that their vehicle may need. If you know ahead of time, you can plan and budget for the things your vehicle needs instead of being surprised with a breakdown!
WHEELS & SUSPENSION
Your tires, wheels, and suspension affect your vehicle's ability to grip the road. Hitting a pothole, curb, or debris in the road can affect not only your tires but your suspension as well. Regular checks of your tire tread, tire pressure, and visible suspension components reduces the chances of a system failure leaving you stranded.
Four Wheel Alignment
Includes adjustment of caster, camber, and toe to within factory specification. Not all vehicles have adjustable alignments. Some vehicles require kits to allow adjustments and others require resetting of certain computer systems after adjustments.
Every time you buy new tires, if you notice a change in the handling of your vehicle, or improper tire wear.
Our technicians don't just let the Hunter Alignment Rack do the adjustment to within factory specs, they adjust the caster, camber, and toe to get the best ride, tire wear, and handling out of your vehicle.
Tire Rotation
Includes proper rotation and inflation of all four tires. Some vehicles require a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) reset after rotation.
First rotation after purchase of new tires is the most important and should be performed between 4,000 and 6,000 miles after install.
After the first rotation, tires should be rotated every 4,000 to 8,000 miles or sooner depending on tread design and wear seen.
Suspension
Suspension parts include shocks, struts, control arms, and ball joints. While most people believe suspension is about ride, it also affects handling, cornering, and ability to control your vehicle on the road.
After a change in handling or ride of your vehicle, or if you can see broken or worn parts.