Preventative Maintenance

By Jeff Martin

The manufacturer of your automobile provides a recommended maintenance schedule listed in the owner’s manual. These guidelines are recommended to keep your vehicle properly maintained. There are 2 different schedules listed: one is regular service and the other is severe service. Each is defined. These guidelines are useful to prevent premature failures, prolong the life of the vehicle and achieve maximum efficiency. The major services start at 30,000 miles. Most manufactures starting at 30,000 miles require the replacement of fuel filters, brake fluid, and coolant fluid. Services in between the majors are engine oil and filter, air filters, cabin air filters and others. Consult your owner’s manual for detailed information.

Such guidelines are followed to keep your car healthy. Sometimes even after conducting the recommended services, problems still occur. Most often when a problem develops there are early warning signs, such as an engine cranking over more slowly in the morning, which could be a sign that the battery is starting to weaken. When applying the brakes, you hear or feel something that you normally wouldn’t. These are just a couple of examples of early warnings. This is your car telling you something is wrong. If we take care of it now, such minor problems won’t become major ones.

Since this issue is named as the second annual cancer survivor’s issue, my main focus here is you, not your car. I have an employee whose spouse has just been diagnosed and is getting ready to start treatments, so this illness has hit my “work family.” The news has reminded us again of how short life is and what really matters most. In recent years, I have seen and heard stories of people who had an ache or pain and just associated it with getting older. Than one day they find out that there is a reason for the problem and told that if the issue had been looked at earlier there could have been more options for treatment and a better outcome. The medical field has guidelines for your health and well being, just like your car manufacturer has for your car. There are recommended screenings based on age and gender, etc., that you should follow as preventive maintenance for your health. You can take care of your health as well as your car’s.

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About Jeff Martin

Jeff Martin is the owner of Martin's Auto Tech, a full-service preventive maintenance and auto repairs center in the Hollywood, MD 20636 area, specializing in Car Care Services, General Services, Undercar Services, Heating and Cooling Services, Electrical Services, Transmission Services, Electronic Services, Internal Engine Services, Heavy-Duty Services, Towing and Miscellaneous Services since 2000.

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