Car Care Tips

Today in our Lube Town blog, we're going to talk about following recommended service intervals. Your vehicle isn't the only aspect of your life in Alberta with recommended intervals: Let's start with twice yearly dental check-ups and regular physical exams. How about laundry, watering the lawn and paying the bills?

Now, what would happen if you didn't follow these intervals? Well, you'd get more cavities. You may not discover health conditions that could be more effectively treated with early detection. And you'd have to wear dirty clothes, be embarrassed by your brown lawn and have your utilities shut off.

Clearly, there are some things in life that we have to take care of regularly. If we don't, there are negative consequences. Our quality of life in Alberta takes a hit and it inevitably costs more money.

So why is it so hard to remember to follow regular preventive maintenance on our vehicles? Probably a couple of reasons. One is that automotive maintenance items just don't seem that urgent. All our Alberta neighbors can see our dead lawn, but no one knows how dirty our transmission fluid is. It's easy to put off. The other reason is that we're just not as familiar with automotive maintenance, so it's a bit intimidating.

From a practical standpoint, people in Alberta don't need to memorize their vehicle owner's manuals. You can let your Lube Town advisor remind you of the guidelines established by the vehicle manufacturer; he has checklists of what the manufacturer recommends and can find potential problems when he inspects your vehicle. You really can rely on Lube Town professionals to help you make good automotive decisions.

For Alberta drivers who want to be more proactive with their vehicle care, here are some simple ways for you to remember what has a maintenance interval.

First: Fluids. If it's liquid, it's got a replacement schedule. Oil change, transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, differential fluid, etc.

Then think tires. They need air, rotation, balancing, tire change over Winter to Summer and Summer to Winter.

And what makes your vehicle go? Air and fuel. Air filter replacement, fuel filters and fuel system cleaning. Of course there are more items, but if Alberta car owners remember to take their vehicle in to Lube Town for these things, their service advisor will help them with the rest.

And if you don't follow recommended service intervals? You get lousy fuel economy, your vehicle doesn't run as well, your safety is compromised and you'll spend more money in the long run. So it's the same as everything else: The quality of your motoring life takes a hit and it ends up costing you more.

Reason enough for me to follow recommended service intervals.

For service on demand, simply drive right up to any of our service bays.

No appointment is ever needed

Give us a call, or visit us at our Lube Town website.

• Lube Town Macleod - 4007 Macleod Tr SW Calgary, Alberta 403-457-3500
• Lube Town Parkdale - 10 Parkdale Cres NW Calgary, Alberta 403-283-3393
• Lube Town Okotoks - 181 North Railway St Okotoks, Alberta 403-995-9565
  http://www.lubetown.com