Today’s modern vehicles are the most reliable ever made. They are precision-built from high-strength steel, aluminum, and plastics. They are filled with computers and sensors that keep them running cleanly and efficiently. And they are packed with vehicle safety technologies that protect you when you accelerate, turn, stop, and park.
As amazing as these cars, trucks, and SUVs are, they still need some periodic maintenance and service to keep them performing at their best. Here are some car maintenance tips to keep you running smoothly down the road!
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Oil Changes Are The Foundation Of Proper Car Care
The oil that continuously circulates through your engine, during every moment that it is running, has many vital functions:
- Reducing friction
- Transferring heat away
- Carrying away contaminants and debris
- Protecting against wear
- Keeping the moving parts from touching
- Preventing corrosion
Today’s oils are a chemically complex blend of about 80 percent base oil stock (for essential lubrication functions) and 20 percent additives. The additives help your oil to properly function between recommended changes. Over time, the oil becomes dirty from dirt particles and byproducts of combustion. The additives get depleted as they do their jobs during many thousands of miles of driving.
Changing your oil and your oil filter at regular intervals removes the bad stuff that the previous oil picked up, and replaces it with fresh, clean oil and additives that are ready to protect your engine during the next interval before it gets changed again. This is one of the best ways to assure a long, healthy life for your vehicle’s engine.
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How Often Do You Need An Oil Change?
What is the correct oil change interval? Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended intervals, and contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help you with all your car maintenance needs.
Remember that if your car is under warranty, you are required to service it at the recommended intervals to maintain your warranty coverage. If you are out of warranty, continue to service it at those intervals to keep it running well and catch any problems early.
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Other Important Areas Of Car Care And Vehicle Safety
In addition to changing your oil, there are typically many other items that we will check or replace at various service intervals. Just as fresh oil and a new oil filter protect your engine, the condition of other components and fluids are also important to the continued good health of your vehicle. Some of these are:
- Fuel filter
- Fuel hoses
- Air filter
- Spark plugs
- Drive belts
- Coolant
- Transmission fluid
- Brake fluid
- Brake hoses
- Parking brake
- Brake pads
- Exhaust pipes
- Muffler
- Suspension parts
- Driveshaft boots
- Air conditioning refrigerant
- Tires
- Battery
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Car Maintenance Is Important
Your Mazda is an intricate, highly sophisticated driving machine, as well as a major investment. Proper car care maintains that investment and assures you of a trouble-free ownership experience. It also assures you of the highest levels of vehicle safety. Here at Moffatt’s Mazda of Barrie, we are committed to the highest standards of service where your car maintenance and vehicle safety are concerned. Contact us to schedule a service appointment, and keep your Mazda running the way it was meant to!