Brooklyn streets are hard on cars. Preventative maintenance keeps yours running smoothly and avoids costly repairs.
Keeping your car in good condition takes regular attention. In Brooklyn, where potholes, short trips and stop-and-go traffic are hard on a car, preventative maintenance keeps it running smoothly and avoids costly repairs.
What preventative maintenance is
Preventative maintenance means the routine checks and services that keep parts from failing: changing what wears out before it breaks, and spotting small problems while they are still small.
The key areas
- Oil and filter: oil protects the engine. Follow the interval in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service schedule if most of your driving is short city trips.
- Tires: check the pressure monthly, look at the tread, and have them rotated on the schedule in your manual so they wear evenly.
- Brakes: have them checked at least once a year, and sooner if you hear grinding or squealing.
- Battery: keep the terminals clean and tight. Batteries weaken with age and with cold weather, so have an older battery tested before winter.
- Fluids: coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid all wear out or leak. Checking their levels catches problems early.
The benefits
- Safety: brakes, tires and lights that work when you need them.
- Lower costs: replacing a worn part costs less than repairing what it damages when it fails.
- Better fuel economy: a well-maintained engine and properly inflated tires use less fuel.
- A longer life for the car, and a better price when you sell it.
A simple routine
- Every month: tire pressure, a look at the tread, and a walk around the car to check the lights.
- At every oil change: fluid levels, wiper blades, belts and hoses.
- Every year: a brake inspection, and the NYS inspection the state requires anyway.
- As your manual says: timing belt, spark plugs, transmission service and other scheduled work.
When to see a mechanic
Some jobs need a shop: timing belts, transmission work and anything inside the engine. Some signs need attention right away:
- New noises: grinding, squealing, clunking or knocking.
- Warning lights on the dashboard, such as the check engine or battery light.
- Leaks under the car, or a smell of coolant or burning oil.
- Brakes that feel soft, or a car that pulls to one side.
Tips for Brooklyn drivers
- Follow the manufacturer's service schedule, and its severe-service version if you drive mostly short trips in traffic.
- Ease off sudden acceleration and hard braking: brakes, tires and the engine all last longer.
- After hitting a pothole hard, watch for pulling, vibration or a crooked steering wheel. An alignment check is quick.
Keeping it simple
Regular maintenance is the cheapest way to keep a car safe and reliable. If you'd like us to go through your car's schedule, call (718) 349-9742 or stop by our shop at 300 McGuinness Boulevard, Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
