Make sure your oil change includes the following services
If you own a vehicle, you probably know that oil changes are a critical part of car maintenance. Timely oil changes will keep your engine clean and efficient, while avoiding issues such as transmission failure and engine knock. But an oil change involves more than just adding fresh oil inside your engine. Quality mechanics will also check your tyres, refill fluids, inspect windshield wipers and much more. In fact, you can think of routine oil changes as a way of getting a quick snapshot of your vehicle's current state.
While an oil change isn't the only type of maintenance necessary, it should come with the following critical services that ensure the longevity of your vehicle.
Tyre inspections and rotations
Having quality tyres will help you remain safer while on the road. Proper tyres are also an essential part of fuel efficiency, as wheel alignment will reduce air resistance any time you're driving. This is why your oil change should involve a tyre inspection.
Work with mechanics who offer complementary (or reduced cost) tyre maintenance along with your oil change. For example, pressure checks, wheel realignment, treading inspections and tyre rotations will help your vehicle perform better on many different road surfaces.
Fluid refills
In addition to engine oil, there are many different fluids that your vehicle requires for effective operation. Brake fluid keeps your rotors and discs lubricated, while transmission fluid allows your gear system to last longer.
Coolant refills are also an excellent way of avoiding overheating problems and climate control issues (in the interior of your vehicle). Your mechanic should provide fluid refills as part of every oil change.
Lighting inspections
Your vehicle's lights are also critical to road safety. For example, headlights and brake lights allow other drivers to adjust to your car's movement while on the road. Make sure your oil change comes with a complete light inspection. This involves a check of your interior and exterior lights, including warning lights that should appear on your dashboard to indicate various problems.
Checking your brake pads
As a vehicle owner, you'll probably need to replace your brake pads at some point. An oil change gives you the opportunity to have your brakes inspected for common issues such as damaged discs/rotors or worn out pads. In other words, these inspections allow you to identify braking problems early and fix them before they become worse.
Transmission check-up
Your oil change should also include a general check-up of your transmission to determine if the gearbox is in good shape. A damaged transmission can be quite costly to fix. Therefore, proper maintenance can help you avoid being slapped with a high repair bill that you didn't expect.
