Preventative Maintenance in Greer, SC

To get the most out of your vehicle, you need to keep up with preventative maintenance. Your vehicle is most likely the second largest investment you’ll make in your life, the first being your home. It makes sense to protect that investment. Even if you plan on selling it after a few years to get a newer vehicle, preventative maintenance is still important, as it increases the resale value. Preventative maintenance also has several other benefits.

Benefits of Timely Preventative Maintenance

While preventative maintenance can seem like a hassle, it is a mandatory hassle if you want to keep your vehicle in good condition. Some of the benefits of timely preventative maintenance With Eastside Automotive include:

Minimizes Unexpected Breakdowns

Regular and timely servicing and inspections can significantly minimize unexpected breakdowns. When you don’t do the maintenance, fluids become ineffective, and spark plugs wear out, among other things. Additionally, Eastside Automotive performs inspections when you come in for oil changes and other maintenance, so we are more likely to catch impending problems before they leave you stranded.

Prolongs the Vehicle’s Lifespan

When you take care of your vehicle by changing the oil, flushing old fluids, making sure the plugs aren’t worn, rotating the tires and doing other maintenance, you can significantly prolong the life of your vehicle.

Optimizes Performance

Proper and timely maintenance ensures your vehicle runs its best in Greer, SC, which means optimal fuel efficiency, power and safety.

Maximizes Resale Value

Used automobile buyers want to purchase a vehicle that will last them a long time in South Carolina. A poorly maintained vehicle will fail significantly sooner than one that has had proper maintenance. If you can show your vehicle was properly maintained, it will command a higher price.

Common Preventative Maintenance Tasks

Manufacturers publish recommended maintenance schedules for their vehicles. You can find yours in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have an owner’s manual for your vehicle, call Eastside Automotive auto repair shop in Greer, SC, and we’ll look it up for you. Most vehicles have similar intervals between various maintenance tasks.

Common preventative maintenance includes:

Oil and Filter Change

Most vehicles require an oil and filter change every 5,000 miles. If you don’t change the oil, it gets contaminated with carbon buildup and dirt and loses its lubricating properties.

Coolant Flush

Coolant loses its lubricating and protection properties over time. Draining it doesn’t get all of the coolant out of the engine. Flush the coolant every five years or sooner for heavy-duty driving.

Transmission Fluid and Filter Change

Draining the transmission fluid doesn’t get all of it out of the torque converter and transmission. Change the transmission fluid and replace the filter every 40,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on your driving habits.

Timing Belt

Most manufacturers recommend changing the timing belt at 40,000 to 60,000 miles. Timing belts tend to stretch over time. If they break on an interference engine, it can cause extensive damage.

Alignments

Check the alignment at least once per year. If you frequently drive on gravel roads or poorly maintained roads, we recommend checking the alignment every six months to prevent uneven tire wear.

Engine Air Filter Replacement

At Eastside Automotive, we check the engine air filter every time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change. We will let you know when it is dirty and needs to be replaced.

Timing Chain

Some manufacturers don’t list an interval to replace the timing chain. However, most recommend changing it from 100,000 to 120,000 miles.

Tune-Ups

Most manufacturers recommend changing the spark plugs every 40,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the type of plug your vehicle uses.

Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for changing the cabin air filter or once every 12-24 months.

Rotate Tires

Rotate the tires every oil change to prevent uneven wear.

Brake Inspections

We will check the brakes every time you come in for an oil change to try to catch the pads before they wear below the metal squeaker tab that alerts you. The tab causes a squeaking noise as it rubs on the rotor, but that gouges the rotor. If you don’t take care of the issue immediately, you’ll have to replace them.

Contact Eastside Automotive

When you need preventative maintenance or repairs, contact Eastside Automotive at (864) 801-0202 for an appointment. We are conveniently located at 2010 River Road, Greer SC 29650.