The Importance Of Maintenance

The Importance of Vehicle Maintenance
Purchasing a vehicle is a big investment. To ensure you get the most out of that investment, make sure you are doing the proper maintenance to keep your vehicle running in top condition. By doing proper vehicle maintenace, you can eliminate 50% of automotive repairs. That is a high percentage that you can't ignore! If you don't know the maintenance schedule of your specific vehicle, we can look it up for you. Just ask!

In order to better maintain our customer’s vehicles and deliver a consistent experience Gines Service has formalized standards for our technicians to use. These standards were developed by gathering information from Automobile Manufacturers and other Automotive Industry sources.

Where possible we use Scientific Testing and measurement to determine if fluids and parts are within specification. In those cases where there is no Scientific Method we use industry-accepted methods as well as our own experience to make an intelligent decision and inform you about what is best for your vehicle. By following these standards and methods, statistics show that we can save our customers as much as 50% in vehicle costs over the life of their vehicle by preventing costly repairs, eliminating unnecessary work and reducing the chances of breakdown and inconvenience.


Oil and Oil Filters
Having your oil and oil filter changed, at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer, is likely to generate the single biggest return on your routine-maintenance investment. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. It's important to use the recommended grade of oil for your vehicle for the best protection and fuel mileage. See your vehicle owner's manual for the recommended oil change interval, or follow the oil-life monitoring system, if equipped.

Air Filters
A dirty air filter prevents the engine from breathing properly, which can decrease fuel mileage and performance and make the engine work harder than it needs to. Let your vehicle breathe! Change the air filter once a year or when recommended in your owner's manual. Change it more often if you drive in dirty or dusty conditions.
If your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter, change that too. A dirty cabin air filter reduces the airflow through the vehicle's ventilation system. Cabin air filters help keep pollen, fumes, smoke, and other materials from reaching the inside of a vehicle. See the owner's manual to determine if your vehicle is equipped with a cabin air filter.

Brakes
Brakes often have wear indicators that produce noise when it's time to change the pads. Or your brakes may feel different when you press on them. If you think there may be a problem with your vehicle's brakes, have them inspected at an Independent Service Center that features quality ACDelco parts. When it's time to replace the brakes, ask for ACDelco DuraStop brakes, which are D3EA-certified to federal safety standards and offer a limited lifetime warranty.

Charging/Battery
Extreme heat and cold are hard on automotive batteries. If your vehicle is a few years old, have the battery and charging system tested to be sure that your battery has the power to start your vehicle and that your alternator is recharging the battery as it should. ACDelco batteries have some of the best warranties in the industry, and our alternators are 100% performance- and reliability-tested to help provide you with a quality, proven product.

Belts
Drive belts are essential for keeping your vehicle's electrical (alternator), engine cooling (water pump), and air-conditioning systems running. Having them inspected periodically and replaced when necessary means you're less likely to experience a broken belt and the resulting vehicle breakdown.

Cooling
A cooling system that is clogged or low on fluid can cause serious damage to the engine and other components. Get into the habit of checking the fluid level regularly, and have the fluid changed or flushed when recommended.

Wipers
Don't wait for a rainy day to discover that your windshield wipers are worn and need replacement. Worn wipers can hinder visibility in rainy or snowy conditions. ACDelco's Beam Blades have a curved design that conforms to the shape of your windshield and provides constant pressure for a smooth, uniform wipe.

Ignition
Though many spark plugs are designed to last 100,000 miles, they can still get dirty or fail prematurely. Ignition wires lose insulating ability over time, and the connection to the plug or ignition coil can degrade as well. Having your service technician regularly inspect your ignition system can help you avoid conditions that may result in poor performance or reduced fuel economy.

Shocks/Struts
The suspension system affects your vehicle's steering, braking power, and stability, so it's important to have these functions inspected regularly and to replace parts when they become worn—and dangerous! ACDelco has shocks and struts that fit your style and budget and that feature a competitive, limited lifetime warranty. It's also important to have other chassis items, such as tie-rod ends, control arms, and ball joints, checked periodically.

Transmission
Automatic transmissions have become more sophisticated with additional gears and computerized electronic controls and are designed to work with the engine controls for best operation. Have the transmission inspected and serviced as recommended in the owner's manual.


For more tips like these, visit ACDelco.