Owning a vehicle requires more than fueling it as necessary. In order to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape, you will need to maintain your car or truck over many years. Knowing which maintenance mistakes are common and how to go about avoiding them can help you protect and preserve your vehicle from needing auto repairs for as long as possible.

Delaying Regular Maintenance

Whether you're the owner of a car or truck, regular and ongoing maintenance is key to ensuring the protection of your vehicle over time. Ignoring traditional maintenance requirements, such as inspecting parts of your vehicle, changing fluids, and even testing the battery, can result in much more expensive auto repair needs in the future. Having the oil changed in your vehicle, your tires rotated, and other fluids changed is an essential factor in owning and taking care of a vehicle over time.

When it comes to maintaining any vehicle, keeping an auto repair schedule is highly recommended. The more you become familiar with maintenance schedules for all types of vehicles, the easier it will become for you to keep track of your own vehicle's needs. A basic maintenance schedule includes a range of services that are required at mileage intervals.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 miles, it's important to have regular oil changes and filter changes to prevent costly auto repair work, according to our technicians. It's also recommended to have an expert inspect all fluids and top them off, including washer fluids, transmission fluids, brake, coolant, and even power steering fluids. In our experience, adjusting and inspecting tire pressure, replacing air filters, and even inspecting the belts inside of your car are advisable between 3,000 and 5,000 miles. If possible, have the brakes on your vehicle checked for wear and tear during this time.

We also advise you to have your tires rotated at around every 15,000 miles and inspect your vehicle's battery (if you are experiencing issues involving the battery) to avoid expensive auto repair services. Inspecting the suspension system along with the air filter inside of your vehicle's cabinet are also services to schedule at around every 15,000 miles you put onto your vehicle.

At 30,000 miles, we advise scheduling an appointment for changing and replacing the fuel filter in your car and inspecting timing belts and spark plugs (if required based on performance). Once you hit around 60,000 miles, however, it's advisable to replace transmission fluids and filters while simultaneously replacing brake fluid. Inspecting all drive belts is also ideal once you hit around 60,000 miles, regardless of the type of vehicle you own and drive.

Even after you reach 100,000 miles, there are additional maintenance tasks our technicians would encourage you to schedule. Once your vehicle reaches its first 100,000 miles, it will be time to inspect engine mounts for potential replacements, although this is not always necessary. Replacing the timing belt and inspecting and replacing coolant throughout the vehicle is highly advisable.

Changing Fluids Incorrectly

Vehicle owners who do not change fluids regularly and correctly are putting their vehicles at risk of long-term damage and expensive repairs or replacements. When it comes to brake fluid and your vehicle, it's highly recommended to have the brake fluid inspected for moisture content at least every two years, and no longer than five years (especially in high humidity), according to Cars.com. The more humidity you are surrounded by, the more advisable it is to have your vehicle's fluids inspected and changed on a regular basis.

Ignoring Warning Signs and Sounds

A major issue for vehicle owners can come from the signs and sounds that are often ignored until it is too late. Odd sounds, vibrations, and other peculiar noises heard inside your vehicle or while driving should never be ignored. Anytime you hear a strange sound that is unfamiliar or not normal, consider having your vehicle inspected further. Oftentimes, odd sounds and vibrations in vehicles are clear signs that there are bigger underlying issues that need auto repair as quickly as possible. Keep track of the exact sound your vehicle is making and when to determine the root cause.

Familiarizing yourself with some of the most common maintenance mistakes that a vehicle owner can make will help you in taking care of your own car or truck while minimizing auto repair costs. When you know which maintenance services are required and when it's much easier to plan accordingly to keep your vehicle as preserved as possible. When you need auto repair, call Tires Plus for service you can count on!