Keeping your car in good working order isn’t just a matter of getting from point A to point B, but it also keeps you safe. When you neglect your vehicle’s maintenance, you may find yourself paying for costly repairs that could have been avoided with regular service. In addition, properly maintained cars are more fuel efficient and can be driven farther between oil changes than poorly-maintained vehicles.

Manufacturers publish a service schedule that specifies what needs to be done and at fixed intervals, typically by mileage or time. While the schedule is a great starting point, it doesn’t always tell you everything that is required to keep your vehicle running at its best. For more info I’ll suggest you visit the website airport transportation houston – Elite Town Car.

Many vehicle owners have a busy schedule or tight budget, so they sometimes put off doing a scheduled service. These drivers may think that they’re saving money by extending the time between services, but this is seldom the case. In most cases, the emergency repair costs for failing components will be much higher than the cost of a required service.

The type of driving you do and the environmental conditions in which your vehicle is used can influence how often it needs to be serviced. For example, hill climbs and frequent towing increase the stress on your engine and other components, which can require more frequent service. Driving in dusty environments can lead to the need to change cabin and engine air filters more frequently.

Some maintenance tasks should never be deferred, regardless of how long you’ve been driving your car. For instance, if the timing belt isn’t replaced after the recommended number of miles, it can fail at a critical time and cause major engine damage. The timing belt drives the camshafts that open the valves, so it’s a crucial component in any V6 or higher engine.

Another maintenance task that shouldn’t be deferred is replacing the brake pads. A worn pad can allow metal to touch the rotor and damage the disc, which is expensive to replace. An easy way to check if you need new brakes is by looking at the pad material for an uneven, shiny appearance.

When you go to get your car serviced, it’s important that you choose the right company. A reputable shop should have certified technicians who understand the proper care and maintenance of your specific vehicle. They should be able to diagnose issues and explain them clearly, as well as provide you with a clear estimate before beginning any work.

If you don’t want to take your car to a shop, you can learn more about it by reading the owner’s manual. It should be written by the people who designed and built your vehicle, so they’re probably the best source of information about its maintenance and care. You should be aware of one thing, however: most dealerships pay their service advisors a commission on every job they perform, so they might recommend unnecessary repairs to you.