Driving in Minnesota is bound to place a lot of wear and tear on any car or truck. Between the snow, ice and extreme cold in the winter and the potholes that litter the roads come spring, a lot of factors will place strain on your vehicle over time. Even if you avoid bad road conditions as much as possible, it’s still important to perform regular automobile maintenance in Minnesota.
Take a look at Arvu Auto’s vehicle maintenance checklist to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to keep your car in good working order for many years to come.
The Essential Car Maintenance Checklist
- Keep Tabs on Your Tires – Of all the components of your car, your vehicle’s tires probably require the most regular maintenance. It’s important to keep the right amount of air pressure in your tires to prevent a leak or a pop that can leave you stranded. Every car and truck has different tire pressure requirements, check your vehicle’s guidebook to determine yours. It’s also important to have a mechanic rotate your tires every 5,000 to 10,000 miles to keep them from enduring uneven wear while driving. Aside from filling and rotating your tires as needed, you would also be wise to swap them out for winter tires toward the end of fall. Winter tires are designed to provide better traction on snowy and icy roads, which is vital when driving in Minnesota during the winter.
- Change Your Oil – When the oil in your car or truck’s engine runs low, it can lead to serious engine problems. Regular oil changes are a simple form of automobile maintenance that can prevent this from happening. It’s a good idea to check your oil levels on a regular basis to make sure you aren’t running dangerously low. In general, a modern automobile’s oil should be changed either every 5,000 miles or every 6 months, whichever happens first.
- Keep Your Fluids Full – Aside from oil, there are many fluids in your vehicle that need to be filled to a proper level to ensure your automobile is operating at peak performance. Engine coolant, differential fluid, transmission fluid and transfer case fluid should all be checked at least once per year to make sure you’re not running low. If you don’t want to deal with this yourself, bring your vehicle to a reliable auto maintenance shop.
- Check Your Air Filter – One step on the vehicle maintenance checklist that drivers often overlook is checking on their engine’s air filter. A properly flowing air filter will both decrease emissions and improve fuel efficiency for your car or truck. Fortunately, air filters don’t need to be changed as often as oil does. It’s best to check on your air filter every 15,000 miles to see if it’s time for a change.
- Maintain Your Suspension System – Another important aspect of automobile maintenance is keeping your suspension system in good shape. Driving on uneven roads in Minnesota, particularly those that are full of potholes, will place strain on your suspension system over time. Every 50,000 miles, you should bring your car or truck to a professional auto mechanic so that they can inspect your shocks and struts. If your vehicle has recently become harder to handle or has jarred you more violently on uneven roads, you should bring it to the shop now for repairs.
Trustworthy Vehicle Maintenance in Minnesota
If you’re a vehicle owner in the greater Twin Cities metro who’s in need of maintenance for your car or truck, you should find a reliable auto repair shop that can service your vehicle on a regular basis. Contact Arvu Auto today for dependable vehicle maintenance services in the West Minneapolis metro and beyond!
