Preventive Auto Maintenance: Avoiding Costly Repairs in Mission Viejo, CA

If you’re a motorist living in or around Mission Viejo, CA, you know you can’t keep your vehicle working correctly without the occasional car repair. However, there’s also no denying the fact that visiting an auto repair shop can be expensive. Because of that, drivers in the area often look for ways to take care of their vehicles without breaking the bank.

The good news is that keeping up on a few preventive maintenance services will help in this regard. If you aren’t already familiar with preventive maintenance, this process involves taking steps in the present to reduce your risk of car problems in the future. Keep reading to learn how maintenance can help minimize your visits to Mission Viejo auto repair shops.

Auto Maintenance Services To Prioritize

Though preventive maintenance might sound like an elaborate process, the truth is that this type of car maintenance primarily consists of everyday tasks. Some preventive maintenance jobs that a qualified auto mechanic can take care of for you include:

Oil Changes

No matter how well-designed your vehicle’s engine is, it wouldn’t be able to run like it should without motor oil. Along with other functions, oil keeps your engine’s moving parts lubricated while controlling the heat your engine generates. But eventually, motor oil will get dirty — and when that happens, it will be much less functional than it originally was.

The only way to deal with this situation is to schedule an oil change for your vehicle. To make this service as effective as possible, try to find a Mission Viejo auto repair shop providing full-service oil changes. When you get one of these oil changes, you’ll also benefit from services like:

• Lubrication of your car’s chassis
• A new oil filter
• Free tire rotation (if requested)

Schedule a Preventive Maintenance Service

Brake Checks

Like most auto components, brakes don’t call much attention to themselves when they’re working normally. Of course, it’s not hard to tell when your brake system has encountered trouble — and when that happens, you’ll want to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

To avoid any sudden, dramatic brake failures, make a point of routinely checking your brakes. That will allow auto mechanics to fix any problems your brakes have encountered before they become difficult to deal with. The average Mission Viejo driver should schedule brake inspections once every six months or 6,000 miles.

Tire Service

Investing in a high-quality set of tires is always a good idea, but you shouldn’t expect them to last forever. Even though you can’t prevent your tires from wearing out, you can preserve them for the time being with tire maintenance work. These are some of the preventive maintenance services tires need:

• Tire rotation. A tire’s position on your vehicle might cause it to wear faster or slower than average. To keep your tread wear as even as possible, you’ll want to make tire rotation a priority.
• Tire balancing. Do your tires weigh precisely the same amount? If not, you’ll have trouble driving safely and you could end up suffering from uneven tread wear. Tire balancing can correct this problem — mechanics providing this service will install tiny weights on your underweight wheels.
• Tire alignment. Tires that aren’t correctly positioned could cause trouble related to tire wear and gas mileage. Alleviating this issue is as simple as visiting an auto repair shop for a quick suspension adjustment.

Other Auto Maintenance Services

The services listed above are some of the most critical tasks to keep up with when you want to avoid car repair service. Other preventive maintenance jobs that can help you pursue this goal include:

• Light checks
• Refills of windshield washer fluid
• Car air filter replacement
• Tightening nuts and bolts
• Power steering/transmission fluid flushes

Know When It’s Time for Auto Repair Service in Mission Viejo

According to conventional wisdom, drivers should plan on getting oil changes every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. That’s not bad advice, but it also doesn’t tell the whole story — depending on your situation, you might need to follow a different oil change schedule. For example, people who commonly drive in warm weather, tow heavy loads, or take short trips should schedule oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Of course, this service schedule doesn’t apply to other preventive maintenance services. When scheduling these tasks, your vehicle’s manual is the best place to start. Many auto manufacturers ask drivers to inspect and replace specific components after 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles.

No matter how seriously you take preventive maintenance, there’s still a chance that your vehicle will encounter unexpected trouble. If you experience strange sights, sounds, smells, or feelings while driving your car, ignoring these symptoms will only make the underlying problem worse. Instead, visit your local Ramona Mission Viejo auto repair shop for service right away, and for additional guidance on common car repair services, you can also refer to our comprehensive auto repair guide.

Get the Best Mission Viejo Auto Repair

When you need Mission Viejo auto repair or maintenance, you need a local auto shop that’s truly qualified to handle this work. With that in mind, give Ramona Tire & Service Centers a try! At Ramona Tire, our ASE-certified mechanics are happy to take on all maintenance and repair services. You’ll also appreciate our fair prices and additional savings opportunities in the form of valuable auto repair coupons. Get started by booking your auto repair appointment today!

Schedule An Appointment at One of Our Mission Viejo Locations:

Ramona Tire | Mission Viejo-La Paz
27210 La Paz Road Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Ramona Tire | Mission Viejo-Santa Margarita
27865 Santa Margarita Pkwy Mission Viejo, CA 92691