mechanics inspecting an engine For many drivers, regularly scheduled maintenance becomes an aggravating inconvenience. When you finally find the time to take your car in, you often have to make a second appointment to have a lengthy list of repairs performed. But a lack of maintenance can result in greater costs later, as more damage from delaying fluids, filters and other necessary parts places strain on the engine.

However, relying on an auto body shop to remind you of repairs isn’t reliable either. Instead, it’s recommended that you take an active role in your car’s maintenance and get skilled professionals like DaSilva’s Auto Body involved along the way.

Read Your Vehicle’s Manual

This document offers details about which repairs are needed, when and how often. This can be as basic as having the vehicle’s oil changed every 3,000 miles – typical for older cars – or 10,000 miles, now the standard for many newer models.

Understand the Basics About Vehicle Service

Although you might not be a trained mechanic or technician, you can still understand the parts of your vehicle, which should be replaced and when. Generally, for most cars:

  • Very little maintenance is needed before the 60,000-mile mark.
  • Certain parts, such as spark plugs, usually don’t need to be changed until the 100,000-mile mark.
  • Not every oil change requires a filter change. Further, know which filters your car has and when they should be replaced.
  • Your automatic transmission system shouldn’t be flushed until you reach 60,000 miles.

Use a Maintenance Tracking App

Due to the size of your vehicle’s manual, there’s a chance a repair will slip through the cracks, until a dashboard light comes on. One convenient solution, courtesy of smartphone technology, is a maintenance-tracking app, which sends a reminder when your car needs a standard repair and tells you which part or fluid needs to be checked.

However you keep your car maintained, understand that basic repairs should never be skipped. Forgetting these updates can reduce its resale value and break your warranty. In fact, if you ever submit a warranty claim to your car’s manufacturer, they can deny it if you aren’t performing regularly scheduled maintenance.

Whether you need a timing belt replaced, oil changed or transmission fluid flushed, DaSilva’s Auto Body is here to assist with all autobody repairs and offers an affordable rate for our high-quality work. To make an appointment, contact our Naugatuck location today.