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These days, we’re all driving our cars less. However, this doesn’t let car owners off the hook for regular maintenance, it just changes what kind of maintenance is needed for the car. Some systems benefit from simply running your engine every once in a while, keeping your vehicle protected and ready to jump into action. There are some services that have to be done after a certain time period, or else the car will have problems. Your tires also have unique needs when the car isn’t being used. Here are some tips from your friends at Pappas Toyota on how to keep your car running well when it’s being driven less.
With many machines, lack of use doesn’t really affect the life of the product. However, cars are full of fluids that contain protective and anti-rust chemicals. These include motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and more. When your car isn’t running, these fluids aren’t going through all of your car’s systems, renewing that protection. We recommend running the car every week, and driving it a bit, to give your car the best protection against corrosion and rust, and to recharge your battery while you’re at it!
You’ve probably heard that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles or so if your vehicle is using conventional motor oil, but what if you aren’t driving that many miles? The truth is that conventional oil only lasts around 3 months, and after that it begins to degrade, losing its lubricating and cooling properties. If you haven’t driven 3,000 miles after 3 months, it’s a good idea to go get your oil changed so that your engine can stay protected.
A lot can happen to tires, depending on the situation. Over time, all tires lose a little air, so it’s good to check air pressure often. Tires also have some natural plasticity, which means when they’re pushed, they’ll stay in that position (until pushed otherwise). This means your car’s tires can develop flat spots from sitting on the same part of the tire for too long. Tire rubber also can decay, especially over time and with severe weather changes. You should check your tires frequently, and you can always bring them in for an inspection if you’re not sure!
We here at Pappas Toyota can help with all of these services and maintenance. In fact, just getting in your car and driving down here will help it too! No matter what your car needs, we can help provide it so that your car will be up and running when you need it most.
