5 Commonly Overlooked Car Maintenance Items

Taking care of your vehicle is important if you want to keep it running in proper condition and avoid unwanted repair costs. The best way to do this is to follow the manufacturer’s suggested servicing schedule. 

However, you might not think about car maintenance beyond basic oil changes. Plenty of automobile owners find themselves needing the aid of this Redondo Beach personal injury attorney because they’ve neglected seemingly minor yet incredibly important repairs. Here are 5 commonly overlooked car maintenance items.

1. Automatic Transmission Fluid Flush

Most newer vehicles have what is called “Lifetime Transmission Fluid”. However, this doesn’t mean that you never have to worry about maintaining your transmission fluid. Typically, newer cars will experience transmission issues after the engine hits 100,000 miles. If you want to prevent this, have your mechanic change the transmission fluid at around 60,000 miles.

2. Brake Fluid Flush

Brake fluid attracts and absorbs moisture from the air. Over time, even in a sealed brake line system, the fluid causes moisture to get stuck inside your brake lines. Not only does this create a lower boiling temperature, but it could also cause rust and corrosion to accumulate in your brake lines. To prevent this, have your brake lines flushed approximately every 36,000 miles.

3. Cabin Air Filter

In addition to the main air filter found under your hood, your vehicle might also have a cabin air filter. This particular air filter cleans the air coming into the vehicle from the outside by removing dust, pollen, smells, and pollutants. These filters, either a simple particulate filter or a charcoal filter, are inexpensive and will greatly improve the air you breathe when traveling.

4. Valve Adjustments

There are two types of lifter valves, hydraulic and mechanical. Hydraulic valve lifters need to be adjusted when they’re first installed and mechanical valve systems may need periodic adjustments throughout the vehicle’s lifespan. 

You should have your valves inspected at the manufacturer’s recommended schedule or if you hear a clicking or tapping noise from the engine. If you’re dealing with a defunct valve, then you might want to get ahold of a California lemon law attorney who can help prove the issue is the manufacturer’s fault. 

5. Coolant Flush

Most people think newer vehicles have lifetime coolant fluid, but this fluid will also degrade over time as part of the normal wear-and-tear of the vehicle. When the coolant degrades, it can cause major damage to other parts of the engine. Unless your vehicle’s scheduled maintenance says otherwise, it’s a good idea to have the coolant flushed and changes every 40,000-60,000 miles.

Whether you’re taking care of your new car that you plan to have for years or you’re purchasing a used car from someone else, it’s important to have complete records of all maintenance. Not only does it show good ownership, but it lets you or the next potential buyer know how well the vehicle was maintained. This will help greatly in knowing what to expect in terms of future costs.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a vehicle that doesn’t have any maintenance records, be sure to get a complete inspection from a trusted and reliable mechanic before you make the commitment. A mechanic can let you know of any issues that the vehicle has currently as well as let you know of any problems that might arise in the future.