Get car ready for winter now

Well-maintained vehicles deliver stronger and more efficient performance. Proper maintenance also helps avoid breakdowns and costly repairs, which can save you money. And when it comes time to replace your vehicle, a documented maintenance history will contribute to a higher resale value.

Last winter AAA’s Roadside Rescue Team came to the aid of nearly 35,000 stranded drivers. Almost 9,000 calls came from drivers with dead batteries, and more than 3,800 calls were for tire problems.

Now is the time to have your vehicle inspected to prevent breakdowns during the cold winter months that lay ahead.

How do you know when your vehicle needs routine service? With older vehicles, motorists had to study the owner’s manual or maintenance booklet and decide if they drove in “normal” or “severe” conditions. Then, they consulted a time/mileage chart that indicated when the car should be taken to the shop – and hopefully they remembered to do so. Most cars today are equipped with computerized maintenance reminder systems that remove much of the hassle from car care.

Confusion still reigns

Based on 2012 Car Care Council vehicle inspections, 77 percent of vehicles had overlooked maintenance items — the majority of which involved low or dirty engine oil. But many also had other service needs that are not routinely prompted by in-vehicle maintenance reminders, things such as low engine coolant, dirty air filters or burned-out headlamps.

Oil changes are another point of confusion. Suggested intervals for oil changes today can vary widely. AAA Tire & Auto manager Jason Brown recommends drivers take a cautious approach when it comes to scheduling oil changes. Brown said “The on board computers only monitor driving habits. They have no ability to monitor oil conditions. The oil itself is usually OK for the longer intervals, yet the oil filter can only filter so much dirt. After it becomes full of dirt it stops filtering and continues to flow the debris throughout the engine, which can result in serious damage. An oil change is the one of least expensive routine maintenance procedures you can do on your vehicle, and it has the greatest impact on the longevity of your engines life span.”

What’s right for your vehicle?

Whether you personally perform vehicle maintenance or rely on a trusted technician, the key is to follow the schedule set by the vehicle manufacturer. If your car has a reminder system, trust it to schedule your oil changes, but also be sure to review your owner’s manual or maintenance booklet to learn what other services are due at the same time.

Never ignore a maintenance reminder. Doing so will increase engine wear and potentially cause long-term damage.

It’s time to prepare your vehicle for the winter ahead

The new AAA Tire & Auto Center located at 8381 Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights offers customers a free air station so motorists can make sure their tires are properly inflated. Drivers can also get free bumper-to-bumper preventative maintenance inspections to help prepare for the upcoming winter. For more information, call (937) 281-3530.

Every month in Life, Cindy Antrican, public affairs manager for AAA Allied Group, Inc., provides traffic safety tips and information for motorists. Email: CAntrican@aaa-alliedgroup.com.

Get car ready for winter now