Integrity Auto Repair of Eugene Oregon knows your vehicle is one of your largest investments.
We believe you can MAXIMIZE YOUR VEHICLE’S LIFE AND PERFORMANCE. Whether it’s time for a 30,000, – 60,000 or 90,000-mile service, we can handle any and all preventive maintenance and automotive repairs required. When you need preventative maintenance in Eugene, OR, you need Integrity Auto Repair.
Foreign, domestic or European – All OUR SERVICES MEET OR EXCEED MANUFACTURER’S REQUIREMENTS. Call and schedule your preventative service today. Let us help you avoid excessive repairs to your vehicle by doing the necessary and timely maintenance checks.
Preventive Maintenance Eugene, OR
Not sure what vehicle maintenance you need? Here is a checklist.
- Always consult your owner’s manual for the schedule of oil filter changes (approx. every 3K to 5K miles)
- Check all fluid levels – including brake, power steering, transmission/transaxle, windshield washer, and antifreeze.
- Check tire inflation once / month – Under-inflated tires rob you of fuel efficiency
- Keep engine properly tuned – Fouled spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30%
- Lubricate the chassis frequently – This extends the life of the suspension system’s moving parts
- Check battery cables and posts for corrosion – Clean as needed
- Check battery fluid level – Fill as needed ( unless maintenance-free )
- Regularly inspect engine belts
- Check air filtration system frequently – At every other oil change. This ensures peak vehicle performance
Preventive maintenance may seem like an unnecessary car expense, but it often involves matters that you’ll have to take care of sooner or later, and paying for them sooner will often be a less expensive undertaking. Most important is the fact that preventive maintenance will help keep you and others safe. And if you don’t keep up with your car’s preventive maintenance, you may find yourself stuck or in need of repair when you can least afford it. And when you want the best preventative maintenance in Eugene, we are here to help.
Fluids
Check all of your fluids regularly. You may need some assistance from a parent or mechanic to show you where to check if you are unfamiliar with the process. You should check your oil, antifreeze, steering fluid, and brake fluid regularly. It’s also a good idea to check your wiper fluid. It is of the utmost importance that your car not run out of oil, as this can destroy your engine. Your oil can get very dirty and should be changed about every 3-5,000 miles or three months. Antifreeze should not be allowed to get too low or your car engine will overheat, which can do severe damage. Antifreeze should be changed about once every two years.
Wheels
Check your tire pressure often–at least once a week is a good idea. Buy a simple tire gauge, then just stick it into your valve stem to get a reading. The amount of pressure that your tires should be inflated to can be found on the inside door jamb on the driver’s side of your car. Low inflation is dangerous because it can cause loss of control and blowouts. It also causes poor gas mileage. You should also check the tire tread for uneven wear and to see if there is enough tread on the tires. Stick a penny in the tire tread, and if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to get a new tire.
It’s also important to have your brake pads changed regularly. Brake pads can last anywhere from 20,000 and 60,000 miles. You should also listen to see if you hear any screeching or grinding. These signs will let you know if there is a problem, but it makes sense to check often and get pads changed early rather than late.
Air Filter and Battery
Two other important areas to check are your air filter and your battery. Have Integrity Auto Repair test your battery if it is over 3 years old. A battery will usually last about five years or more. Take a look to see if there is any corrosion around the battery or battery cables. If you think your battery is getting up there in age, just go ahead and replace it. Spending a little bit of money early is better than being stranded somewhere.
Your air filter is what keeps the air that runs through your engine clean. The filter can get very dirty, and replacing it will make your car run better. A dirty air filter can rob you of gas mileage.
There are a lot of pieces to a car, and every into should be kept in good order. Bring your car in to Integrity Auto Repair on River Road in Eugene Oregon and we will perform a vehicle inspection to ensure you are aware of any potential problems with your car or light truck. Always, pay attention to any dashboard trouble lights that come on and have them checked out right away.
Value of Preventative Auto Maintenance
Spending more than $600 annually on maintenance and repairs may sound like a lot, but it’s nothing compared to the added expense of buying a new car, especially if your current car is paid off. In fact, by some estimates, every five years you drive your car after paying it off saves you the monetary equivalent of a new car.
To understand how let’s compare a new car to a paid-off car with standard maintenance. To make it interesting, let’s stack the deck in the new car’s favor by saying that you drive 24,000 miles (38,624 kilometers) per year, which is double the national average. In five years, that adds up to 120,000 miles (193,121 kilometers) under your wheels, which translates to 35 to 40 oil changes. At $40 apiece, you’re looking at $1,400 to $1,600 — let’s call it $1,500. Figure in another $2,200 for miscellaneous service costs (filters, hoses, tire rotations and so on) and another $1,500 for a few major items like a timing belt replacement, new brakes and shock absorbers. Tally that up and you get $5,200, or around $1,040 per year.
Now let’s compare that to a new car. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the average price of a new car sold in the United States in 2011 was $28,966, but we’ll lowball it and say you found a good deal at $24,000 and financed $20,000 at 7 percent interest for 48 months. That comes out to a monthly payment of just under $479, which tallies to $5,747 per year [source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission].
In other words, for the cost of owning a new car for one year, you could own a paid-off car for five years, drive it into the ground, and still have money left over for tolls.
According to Consumer Reports, the average life expectancy of a new vehicle is around eight years or 150,000 miles [source: Weisbaum]. A well-maintained car also means a safer trip for you and your loved ones. And who can put a price on that?
Contact us today to schedule you next Eugene preventative maintenance appointment.
