Quality surveys report fewer problems with new cars than ever before. So does that mean that modern vehicles have become maintenance free? Back when cars spent more time in Twin Cities repair shops, those drivers were more mindful of routine service. Now, it's much easier to put it off.

Take tune-ups for example. In the days of mechanical ignition systems, an engine needed to be tuned-up every couple of years. If your engine was out of tune, you knew it. It ran poorly and got bad fuel economy driving on Minnesota streets and highways. Now, the ignition system is electronic and controlled by the engine management computer. Spark plugs rarely get fouled and will last for as much as a 100,000 miles. So vehicle tune-ups used to force you in for service, and while you were there, you just took care of whatever else was on the list.

So what's the benefit to keeping up with factory scheduled maintenance at shops like ours?  Well, your vehicle will perform better and return better fuel economy. Those benefits pay for the service as you go along. The big plus is that major repairs – and the associated breakdowns – are prevented. And these aren't just repairs that are a long way off. Modern engines are far more sophisticated and have many parts that are in critical need of proper lubrication. Missing just one oil change can allow oil sludge to start forming. Sludge clogs small engine passages, robbing vehicle parts of the lubrication they need. An expensive failure could easily occur within two or three years.

Taking care of the little things prevents big problems with your vehicle later. No motorist wants to be stranded by a breakdown. Your vehicle still needs to be taken care of – it's just that some of those points of care have changed with automotive advancements. The need for proper maintenance did not go away. Cars and trucks need a variety of different fluids in order to operate at their optimal performance expectation. Engine oil, coolant, power-steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, differential fluid, transfer case fluid, A/C refrigerant, washer fluid.....you get the point. We say it almost ad nauseam: prevention is cheaper than repairs.

Trying to figure out what your car needs and when?  We can get all of that information for you, just give us a call!