VEHICLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

However, Not Everyone Agrees On What Preventive Maintenance Is, What You Should Do, And When You Should Do It. Let’s Clear That Up, And Give You Some Tips That’ll Apply To Any Vehicle.

Anyone who’s ever worked on cars or spent a ton of money getting their car repaired will tell you: Don’t ignore preventive maintenance.

Preventive maintenance (PM) is the key to any successful maintenance program for commercial motor vehicles. Through preventive maintenance, vehicles are inspected, repaired, and maintained in such a way that defects are prevented from surfacing in the first place, before a violation or accident can occur.

If vehicles are only brought into the shop when they need something, the program is not preventive, it is reactionary. The problem with reactionary maintenance programs is that they are based on failure, i.e., you notice something has failed and you fix it. This type of maintenance program is destined to lead to down-time and the resulting costs of idle equipment.

A preventive maintenance program, on the other hand, brings vehicles in for inspection and maintenance on a schedule, and repairs any items that are at, or even approaching, an established cut-off point. This allows you to make repairs on your schedule, prevent violations and accidents, and keep the vehicles rolling.

Preventive maintenance is also an attitude, a commitment. It means being constantly on the lookout for things that might go wrong. It means getting the best, most cost-effective equipment for the truck and then taking care of it. This is much like preventive medicine that stresses good eating habits and regular exercise as a continuing prescription for good health and long life.

BENEFITS OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

If you’re not sure whether preventative maintenance sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out this list of 3 ways it could benefit your vehicle.

SAVING MONEY
Perhaps one of the most major bonus points for preventative maintenance, is its ability to save you money over time. Your vehicle requires a lot of upkeep, and part and labor costs can get high depending on the work being done. To ensure that you don’t overspend in the future, it helps to pay a small amount to make sure everything is running properly now.
For example, something as simple as rotating your tires regularly, and getting an alignment at a garage, can save you from the hassle of prematurely replacing four tires. This is a comparison of $200 vs. $800-$1000. Over time the tread on your tires wear down, usually more so on one side than the other. When you have the tires rotated, you allow the tread on the other side to wear down more evenly, extending the life and tread of your tires. If you allow the tread to bald on one side, while the other remains as is, it could alter the ride of your vehicle, and result in a burst tire.
Tires aren’t the only place you can save money. An oil change can increase the longevity of your engine, regularly changing brake pads can keep your rotors and calipers from becoming damaged, and having a tune-up will keep your electrical in tip top shape.
It’s not just for financial reasons that we at Om Automotive Service suggest preventative maintenance to our clients. Our main reason for preventative maintenance is for safety purposes. Your vehicle takes quite a beating over time, driving into pot holes, beating the summer heat, and barreling down the freeway at excess speeds. Imagine if something were to give out on you during one of your excursions, leaving you stranded roadside.
Many of our preventative maintenance procedures are small and affordable services, but they make a big impact on the longevity of your vehicle. Something as minor as having a diagnostic run on your warning lights could save you from engine failure on the middle of the freeway. At Om Automotive Service, we think of our clients as family, and we always want our family to be safe. Concerned about odd noises, smells, or shaky handling of your vehicle? Stop by Om Automotive and let one of our experienced mechanics repair any issues sooner rather than later.
You paid good money for your vehicle, and you expect it to get you where you need to go. Preventative maintenance ensures that your car keeps running smoothly, and doesn’t cut out on you when you need it most. Many of the services offered through Om Automotive Service, focus on individual areas of your vehicle, which can have a large impact on its overall performance. From the timing belt to the power windows, there are hundreds of small components working together to give you a safe and comfortable ride.
Some of the inconveniences you could encounter without preventative maintenance include your power windows locking up, battery dying when you’ve been parked too long, heat and AC cutting off when you need to regulate your vehicle’s temperature, among many other more major issues.
For more information on preventative maintenance and our many available auto services, contact us today at Om Automotive Service. Our team of professional mechanics is well versed in a variety of auto repair needs, and work hard to deliver high-quality, lasting results every time. As a small family operated business, we love being part of our community, and want to see the best for our neighbors. Stop by and meet the team, we’re always happy to speak with new or existing clients, and schedule an appointment at your convenience.