The Car Care Council set the months of April and October as National Car Care Month as reminders for car owners to get their vehicles ready for the change of seasons. Sadly, some people don’t heed the advice of preventive maintenance and they end up with all sorts of car repair bills and vehicle breakdowns. Here’s a fact. If you take proper care of your vehicle, you will avoid unexpected repair bills, your vehicle will run better, you will feel confident that it’s safe to drive, and it will last longer. This blog post will provide you with some simple steps to taking proper care of your vehicle.

1. Change the engine oil and filter when it should be changed. The engine oil is a vital fluid. Changing it before it is no longer able to protect your engine parts goes a long way to extending engine life. If you drive around with dirty oil and a bad filter, you risk major engine damage. The cost of regular oil changes isn’t even close to what you would pay if the engine gets damaged. Don’t skip oil changes and don’t use cheap oil and filters. It makes a difference.
2. Have the air filter changed regularly. If you don’t, dirt and debris is able to enter into the engine causing damage. You will definitely notice poor engine performance when you drive around with a clogged air filter. Your owner’s manual tells you the frequency at which you should change this important filter. We will also check it out whenever your vehicle is in the shop for routine maintenance.
3. Maintain the cooling system. When you don’t, your vehicle will eventually overheat and engine parts will wear out from corrosion. This is much more serious than most vehicle owners think. Here’s why. If the coolant isn’t changed, it can’t protect various parts from corroding and the engine will run hotter. Eventually, the engine will overheat. An overheated engine is at risk of serious damage. Maintaining the cooling system is as simple as having the coolant changed before it can no longer protect your engine as well as changing belts and hoses before they break.
4. Find an auto repair shop you trust (like Colonial Service Station in Staten Island, NY), and bring your vehicle there for ALL of its service and repairs. Why is this important to vehicle longevity? When you bring your vehicle to one shop, detailed records are kept and you will always know what needs to be done and when. At Colonial Service Station, we get to know you and your vehicle. You’re partnering with us for your car care and that means we will let you know when something needs to be replaced.
5. If you notice a problem with your vehicle, don’t ignore it. Check Engine light on? Get it taken care of right away. If you notice a leak, an odd smell or a funny sound while driving, have it repaired. If ignored, a minor problem will end up being a major repair. Even worse, your vehicle will become a safety hazard to you and others. Take the time to read your owner’s manual and learn about your dashboard lights.
6. Do periodic walk-arounds to inspect to your vehicle. Driveway inspections are a simple way to identify something that isn’t right. The inspection should look at the condition of your tires, check that the lights are working, and look at the condition and level of engine fluids. If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right, we can check it for you.
7. Keep your vehicle clean on the outside and inside. Winter road salts cause corrosion, especially to the underside of your vehicle. Regular car washes will remove those salts. You will also want to have the vehicle waxed. For the interior, vacuum it regularly and apply protectant to leather and vinyl.

The best way to make sure your vehicle lasts longer is to bring it to Colonial Service Station in Staten Island, New York. Schedule your service or repair with us today.