Responsible vehicle owners routinely maintain their vehicles as their respective manufacturers recommend. Following the service schedules determined by the same engineers who designed and built their vehicles helps keep them in great mechanical condition. According to Bankrate, about 8% of motorists have delayed getting routine maintenance done to their vehicles. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy by scheduling routine maintenance and an auto repair service.

Increased Safety

Delaying routine maintenance affects vehicle safety and makes it virtually impossible to spot mechanical issues before they become costly problems. In our experience, for example, the brake pads that grip brake rotors use friction pads that are designed to wear out after about 30,000 miles of travel. We recommend that you have the brakes inspected at least once a year to ensure the brake pads are in good condition and to fix the brakes if there is a problem. By maintaining your brakes, you'll be able to drive without the risk of them failing to activate at a crucial moment.

Higher Fuel Economy

Fuel costs are very high, and it pays to get the best possible fuel economy by maintaining your vehicle. The more efficiently your car's motor runs, the less you'll have to spend on fuel. It's also important to balance and rotate the tires to ensure the tread provides the best traction and handling, which also helps keep fuel costs lower. If an auto repair service is needed to tune the engine or fix something else, it's important to do so for safety reasons as well as mechanical ones. This way, you'll actually save money by investing in your vehicle.

Lower Repair Costs

When you ignore an auto repair service for too long, a part or entire mechanical system might fail. Instead of paying a relatively small sum to replace a worn part or component, you might have to replace the entire system. If the problem is really bad, you might have to replace the entire vehicle. Timely maintenance and repairs help minimize any repair costs while making your vehicle more affordable to own, drive, and maintain. Timely service also makes it more reliable.

Decreased Vehicle Downtime

Most routine automotive maintenance services can be done quickly and often in less than an hour. You probably can drive to the auto shop, get the work done, and drive home during the same morning or afternoon. The more involved an auto repair service is, the longer it will take to do the work.

Mechanical surprises also might require ordering parts that aren't immediately available while increasing the repair costs and amount of time your vehicle is in the shop. You might have to rent a vehicle until yours is out of the shop and running well again. Planning services in advance avoids these issues entirely.

Continuation of the Warranty

Prioritizing maintenance and auto repair service is a sure way to enjoy the full manufacturer's warranty protection for a vehicle. When you can show routine maintenance was done on time, and you took good care of your vehicle, a manufacturer should honor any warranty protection on it. Ignoring work and then filing warranty claims if something breaks is much more likely to result in the manufacturer voiding the warranty and charging you for any repair costs due to negligent ownership.

Disposal of Oil Residue Buildup

Something as simple and affordable as a routine oil and oil filter change could lead to lower ownership costs if you take the time to change the oil. When oil stays in the engine block well after it has lost its viscosity, the engine accumulates oil residue on the inside. That residue will make it harder to circulate the oil, which might affect the oil pump. It also could cause the engine to run hotter because it isn't lubricated as well as it should be. One or more cylinders also might lose compression and reduce the engine's power and fuel economy which could have been spared with a simple oil and oil filter change.

Higher Return on Investment

When you care for your vehicle, it retains its value throughout the years. Maintenance is designed to ensure reliability and continued service from your car. If you want to get good and reliable service from it, you have to reliably provide it with routine maintenance and occasional repairs. Anything less lowers the value of your vehicle and raises the ownership cost.

You shouldn't view caring for your vehicle as an added expense. Rather, it's safeguarding your investment for the future! When you want to schedule routine maintenance or auto repair service for your vehicle, look no further than Wisconsin Muffler Tire & Auto Center. Since 1986, we've serviced cars at four different locations within our community. Call today to schedule your inspection or service!