The year 2021 has come and gone but is not soon forgotten. The year that brought us COVID vaccines, more supply chain issues, and many ups and downs, probably presented many people with automotive problems that required the assistance of a mechanic. With 2022 upon us you’ve probably made and already broken many traditional resolutions. However, the year is still early and there is still plenty of time to resolve to take better care of your vehicle this year than you have in times past. After all, owning an automobile is a large investment and everyone should want to get the most out of their investments. At Cassels Garage we would like to offer a few rather simple automotive resolutions that you can make to ensure that your vehicle continues to run as smoothly as possible through 2022 and beyond.
1. Resolve to Check Your Vehicle’s Fluids With More Regularity
Stop for a moment and try to remember the last time that you check the fluids in your automobile. If you are honest with yourself it has probably been longer than you would like to admit since you did more than a cursory check of the under-the-hood fluids such as brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid. Perhaps you check these fluids when you perform an oil change, or possibly before a road trip, but chances are you aren’t checking them enough. For the New Year, it would be a good goal to check the fluids of your vehicle far more often. In fact, it’s a good idea to check your transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant once a week. It’s usually not very difficult and should take more than a few minutes to do a thorough inspection of most vehicle fluids that are found under the hood.
However, your vehicle also has fluids that can only be checked from underneath your vehicle. These under-vehicle fluids, such as differential fluid, should be checked during every oil change, of every few months if your vehicle has extended oil change intervals. If you possess the know-how and proper equipment to properly support your vehicle, then you may be able to check these under-vehicle fluids yourself. Otherwise, you are better off having a trained auto mechanic, like those found at Cassels Garage, check these fluids for you.
2. Keep Up With Routine Maintenance
We understand that trying to keep up with, work, family, and various other aspects of life is difficult and time-consuming. We get it, changing your vehicle’s fluids and filters at proper intervals is probably one of the last items on your list. You should keep in mind, however, that staying on top of routine maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your automobile running smoothly and extend its life. While it’s not very likely that you’ll be less busy this year, than you were last year, it’s still a good idea to resolve to make routine vehicle maintenance a higher priority on your to-do list. Cassels Garage is here to help. We can help with your vehicle’s maintenance and give you the peace of mind that things have been done properly.
3. Stop Putting off Car Repairs
The thought, “That can wait until the new year” might be fine for some tasks, but it can be a costly decision when it’s quoted in reference to needed vehicle repairs. Often times delaying automotive repairs just leads to a bigger bill down the line. It’s time to stop turning the radio up to drown out loud vehicle noises, or conveniently covering up the warning lights on your dash. Bring your car to Cassels Garage and let us inspect those sounds and warning lights. We have the experience and know-how to make a wide array of automotive repairs, all at a fair price. So, quit putting off what you know needs to be done and take your vehicle in for those long-overdue repairs. Your car and your wallet will be glad that you did.
4. Check Your Tires and the Pressure of Your Tires More Often
Proper tire maintenance not only assists in improved tread life but also helps with fuel economy and ride characteristics. All of that should incentivize you to stay on top of your tire maintenance. But, we know that the reality is that tires are boring and their proper maintenance can easily be forgotten. In most cases, it’s a good idea to check the condition of your tires and their pressure at least once a month. Things to look out for are bubbles on the sidewall, missing chunks of tread, and other obvious signs of tire damage. You should also use a gauge to check that the tread of the tire has not become too low. Also, make sure that your tires are not over or underinflated. Overinflated tires can cause them to wear more quickly and be more susceptible to impact damage. Underinflated tires can also cause them to wear more quickly, as well as reduce fuel economy and increase the chance for a blowout. You should always inflate your tires to the recommended pressure which can usually be found on the inside of the driver’s side door jam. If you have any questions or would like a professional to inspect your tires feel free to make an appointment at Cassels Garage.
Bring Your Vehicle to Cassels Garage
The automotive resolutions that we have mentioned are just a few of the plethora that can be made to help ensure that you get the most out of your vehicle this year. We know that it’s not easy to keep up with everything, so if you’re in the Melbourne area let Cassels Garage help with your automotive repair and maintenance needs. We’ve been assisting Melbourne residents with their automotive needs for decades and we’d be glad to help you as well.
