How Car Maintenance Can Keep Auto Repair Costs at Bay

preventive maintenance being performed by mechanics

Are you a Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, resident who’s owned a car for more than a few months? If so, you know how crucial car maintenance and repairs are. But this work comes with a price tag, so most drivers in the area want to keep it to a minimum — and understandably so.

Are you interested in minimizing your car’s repair and maintenance needs? Here’s a closer look at the steps you can take to avoid expensive auto service and some advice on saving as much as possible when your vehicle does need work.

Help Prevent Expensive Car Repairs With These Tips

While you can’t eliminate your need for automotive maintenance and repair work, you can definitely reduce the amount of work your car will require. These steps can help protect your vehicle’s overall well-being:

Prioritize Preventive Maintenance

Surprisingly enough, one of the best ways to prevent expensive car repairs is scheduling car maintenance! That might sound contradictory, but no vehicle can go without routine maintenance for too long. By sticking to your vehicle’s preventive maintenance schedule, you can improve its overall well-being while avoiding more expensive auto repair work down the line.

With that in mind, how often does your vehicle need routine maintenance? As a rule of thumb, cars typically need this work once every six months or 5,000 miles. For more specific advice, refer to your vehicle’s manual.

Go the DIY Route (When You Can)

Not every car maintenance service requires a visit to your local auto shop. Most car owners can handle small-scale jobs — such as replacing windshield wipers, spark plugs, and fuel filters — on their own.

But that doesn’t mean the average person can take care of their vehicle’s complete service needs independently. Repairs and more in-depth car maintenance work (including oil changes) should be handled by ASE-certified mechanics with the knowledge and equipment required to complete these tasks without a hitch.

Keep an Eye on Your Vehicle

Fixing a problem, like your car jerking while accelerating, right away will almost always be less expensive than putting it off until later. That means you should regularly inspect your vehicle for signs of trouble that could eventually lead to severe issues.

As part of this process, it’s a good idea to get your brakes checked every so often, look at your fluid levels once a month, and closely monitor your tire treads/inflation. If you notice any leaks, unexpected noises, odd smells, or warning lights, it’s best to bring your car in for service as soon as possible.

Cut Down on Your Car Repair Costs

No matter how much time and effort you put toward keeping your car in good shape, it will need professional auto repair service at some point in its life span. When that happens, you shouldn’t neglect your vehicle’s maintenance and repair needs — doing so will only make whatever problems it’s dealing with worse.

Instead, your goal in this situation should be to get high-quality service while saving as much as possible. To accomplish this, you can:

Visit a Reputable Auto Shop

If an auto repair shop has been in business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for at least a decade, there’s a good chance it was able to get to that point thanks to a rock-solid reputation. Auto shops that are well-respected in the area have earned that respect by not overcharging for their services.

Some small auto shops may charge lower rates for car maintenance than their more established competitors do, but even that can be a red flag. Shops with rock-bottom pricing likely won’t offer the ASE-certified mechanics, service warranties, and exceptional customer service you’re looking for when it’s time to set up car preventive maintenance service.

Get Repair Quotes Ahead of Time

How much will your next car repair or car maintenance service cost? At some auto shops, answering this question in advance can be tricky. Fortunately, other car repair shops have done away with this source of stress by providing online quote request forms.

An auto shop’s willingness to offer quotes is something you should take into consideration when choosing a shop in the first place. Shops that give quotes to their customers don’t have anything to hide in terms of pricing, but the opposite can also be true.

Save With Online Auto Repair Coupons

Trustworthy Dallas/Fort Worth auto shops don’t charge excessively high rates for their preventive maintenance work. Even so, the best shops go above and beyond in this department by offering online coupons to their valued customers.

Auto repair coupons and discounts can help people save on everything from oil changes to major repairs. But if you see a coupon you want to use on your auto shop’s website, don’t wait too long to use it — these deals change on a regular basis.

Consider Financing Options

The low prices and online coupons offered by respected auto shops can help people in Texas afford maintenance and auto repair services. Even with these advantages, you might find it difficult to pay for vital auto work, particularly when you didn’t know you’d need to fit these services into your budget.

If you’re in this boat, there’s no need to panic. Just look for an auto shop that offers one or more financing options, including credit cards with no annual fees and reasonable monthly payments.

Know Where To Go For Car Preventive Maintenance Service

There’s no denying that car maintenance and repair work can be costly, especially if you choose the wrong auto shop for these services. But by scheduling relatively inexpensive maintenance work at a reputable shop today, you can avoid much more expensive services tomorrow. On top of that, the best auto shops assist their valued customers by offering coupons, financing opportunities, and other ways to save.

At Driver’s Edge Complete Tire & Auto Service, we pride ourselves on being the number one destination for Dallas/Fort Worth-area drivers in need of maintenance and repair work. If you want the peace of mind that only ASE-certified technicians can provide without breaking the bank, schedule an appointment with us today!

Book Your Next Maintenance Appointment

Car Maintenance FAQs

Is regular car maintenance worth it?

Routine car maintenance is one of the most important aspects of vehicle ownership. Not only does routine car maintenance help your vehicle perform optimally, but it also saves you money by promoting your vehicle's best fuel economy and reliability. It's a proven fact that vehicles that have been well maintained throughout their life tend to be more reliable than vehicles whose service has been neglected. Car maintenance is so important that services are often called “car preventive maintenance services” because they can help prevent breakdowns.

Of all the car maintenance services that your vehicle can receive, oil changes are one of the most important. This is because your oil is designed to protect your engine, which is one of the most expensive components in your vehicle. Your engine oil continually circulates to coat the many moving parts inside your engine, cooling and lubricating them to ensure smooth operation. Failing to perform a timely oil change is one of the fastest ways to permanently damage your engine and end up with thousands of dollars of repair costs. Because your oil needs to be changed the most frequently of all your vehicle's fluids, damage can occur to your engine the fastest if this service is neglected. However, a similar fate lies in store for the other components that are affected by neglected fluid changes and maintenance services.

What is the difference between car service and maintenance?

When speaking about car terms, some individuals may prefer to use the term “car service” over “car maintenance,” and vice versa. In truth, car service and car maintenance are the same thing. The terms are used interchangeably and often refer to the act of performing maintenance services on your vehicle to prevent breakdowns. Car service often consists of replacing a part or fluid to maintain the optimal performance of your vehicle. Car maintenance is relatively inexpensive and is often called “preventative maintenance” because it can help to avoid major breakdowns.

Here are a few examples of car maintenance services:

No matter which type of preventive maintenance service your vehicle needs, we strongly recommend that it is performed by a qualified automotive professional, such as those at Driver's Edge. Inexperienced mechanics who perform car maintenance services can easily do more harm than good. For example, an inexperienced mechanic performing a coolant flush could leave air in your coolant lines, which could lead to your engine overheating. This is just one of many examples of how the smallest mistake made by an inexperienced technician or another unqualified person can lead to preventable breakdowns.

How often does a car need maintenance?

How often your vehicle needs maintenance will depend largely on your manufacturer's recommendations. One of the easiest ways to determine your vehicle's exact maintenance needs is by referring to your owner's manual. Here, you’ll find a thorough service plan for your vehicle designed by your manufacturer’s engineers. Following this maintenance plan closely is one of the best ways to maintain vehicle reliability, optimize field economy, and save money by preventing the need for costly repairs.

If you don't have a copy of your owner's manual, we encourage you to search for a free version online. Many automotive manufacturers offer free copies of their vehicle owner’s manuals on their websites.

Although the requirements of different manufacturers may vary, here is a general list of the various services that your vehicle will need throughout its lifetime and their general change intervals:

Oil change: Conventional oil: 3,000 to 5,000 miles, Synthetic blend oil: 5,000 to 7,500 miles, Full synthetic oil: 7,500 to 10,000 miles

Transmission fluid flush: every 60,000 miles

Coolant flush: every three years or 36,000 miles

Brake pad replacement: every 15,000 to 60,000 miles

Brake rotor replacement: every 60,000 to 80,000 miles

Tire rotation: every 7,500 miles

Engine air filter replacement: every 15,000 miles or two years

What car maintenance services do I need?

You should perform every single car maintenance service that your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Skipping even the smallest of your car's preventive maintenance services could result in an unnecessary breakdown or a part failure that would cost much more to repair than if you had performed the service in the first place.

Because Driver’s Edge is a full-service auto repair shop, we regularly see failed components that would have lasted much longer had the vehicle been properly maintained. One example that we see commonly is a failed water pump. Often, drivers will stay on top of their oil change services but neglect other important services that are critical for their vehicle's smooth operation.

For example, neglected coolant flush services can very easily lead to water pump failure. This is because your coolant loses its antifreeze and antiboil properties over time. Neglecting to change this fluid can result in your engine running hotter, potentially blowing a head gasket. In addition, your coolant acts as a lubricant for your water pump. Neglecting a simple service, such as a coolant flush, can also cause your water pump to fail.

If you purchased your vehicle pre-owned and you're wondering what maintenance services your vehicle needs, we encourage you to speak to one of our auto repair service advisors. At Driver’s Edge, our staff are ASE-certified mechanics who can perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle's parts and fluids and let you know what services we recommend for your vehicle.