Just like when it comes to looking after your health, being proactive in taking care of your vehicle can help save you from the trouble of having major issues down the road. By getting ahead of your preventative vehicle maintenance, you can catch small, minor issues when they initially arise before they develop into big costly problems.
If you notice unusual sounds or smells emanating from your vehicle, or really just anything out of the ordinary at all, you should have your vehicle looked over by a professional mechanic. Don’t keep driving hoping that issue will simply resolve itself. Most likely it won’t, and if left undiagnosed could evolve into a very serious issue.
On some occasions, your vehicle won’t give any observable indication that there is a problem. This is why preventative maintenance is so key when it comes to taking care of your car, truck, or van. By having routine maintenance checks done annually by a certified mechanic you will be sure to find any of these silent issues early, and in doing so, you’ll save yourself from having to spend big money on repairs that could have been prevented.
At Inland Mobile Mechanic, we want our friends and customers in Spokane and Spokane Valley to get the most miles out of their vehicles. That’s why we now will present to you 3 easy preventative maintenance tasks you should be doing every single year.
Oil Change
Y’all need to be changing your oil! I know that we’ve said it before, but we’re here to say it again! Changing your oil is probably the easiest preventative maintenance task you can do that will have the biggest results! It’s so simple, everyone knows you’re supposed to do it every 3-10 thousand miles, and yet, over and over people forget or otherwise neglect to do it Seriously, just do it. Your engine will thank you, and you will thank yourself.
Check Your Battery
There is not much that can be done for a battery gone bad. The fact is they only last for so long and eventually they will need to be replaced. However, testing the battery can actually tell us quite about your vehicle. If you battery is brand new but is having trouble starting up the vehicle or holding a charge, this can be a clue about something going wrong with your starter or alternator.
Inspect Your Timing Belt
The timing belt inside your engine is like the conductor at the symphony. It keeps all the bells, whistles, and moving parts of the engine working together. Without a proper functioning timing belt the pistons and crankshaft can get all out of sync causing the parts to bang together causing damages. Even worse, when the timing belt fails completely the engine can become so out of sync that it literally tears itself apart!
It’s recommended that your timing belt is changed every 60 thousand miles. However, due to the critical function of this piece of the engine, you can gain peace of mind when you have your timing belt inspected for defects once or twice a year.
Get Your Tires Aligned And/Or Rotated
Tires are one of those things that are also sometimes forgotten about. Tires can be expensive, but if you take proper care of them they can last longer. Overtime the alignment of the tire on the rim can be knocked askew which can lead to an uneven wear pattern on the tread. This can ultimately lead to problems with steering, like drifting to the left or right.
Regular rotation of the tires from the front to the back and vica versa is also critical to prolonging the lifetime of your tires. Regular rotation will ensure that the tread wears down evenly so that you can get the most life out of them!
If you think your vehicle is due for any of these important preventative maintenance tasks, give us a call! We come to you, that means we can do inspection and routine maintenance of your vehicle wherever is convenient, whether you are at home, at work, or even at the grocery store!