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Auto Maintenance Tips for the Motoring Public
In the real world, the vast majority of drivers operate their automobiles under what is often called "severe driving conditions." It is important that you follow your car manufacturer's recommendations for severe service maintenance intervals.
You are subjecting your vehicle to severe driving conditions if you do any of the following types of driving:
- Multiple short trips
- Stop and go driving
- Cold weather
- Hot, dusty conditions
- Tow trailers
- Heavy loads
 Your local AOCA member lube center can provide the maintenance services required by your vehicle's manufacturer. The services provided include more than just changing the oil and oil filter. AOCA member lube centers provide a thorough check of all your vehicle's vital fluids. In addition, many member centers can replace your Air Filter, check your Air Conditioning, change your Automatic Transmission Fluid, clean Fuel Injectors, flush & fill the Radiator, change Wiper Blades, rotate Tires and perform many other services. For more information on the need for these services, scroll down to the Maintenance Services section.
Useful Resources
Maintenance Services
When you pull into an AOCA member lube center, you can expect that most of the following checks and services will be completed.
- Drain & replace motor oil - Why?
- Install new oil filter - Why?
- Lubricate the chassis
- Check the air filter - Why?
- Check PCV valve
- Check breather element
- Check brake fluid
- Check transmission & transaxle fluid - Why?
- Check your gear boxes - Why?
- Check and fill windshield washer fluid
- Inflate tires to proper air pressure - Why?
- In-cabin air filter - Why?
Making sure all of the important systems are in good operating condition is one of your lube center's primary goals. Be confident that when you leave the center, all systems are GO!
To find the AOCA member service center nearest you, click on the "Find a Member Lube Center" button on the list at left. You can search by zip/mail code or city, state and country. You will find addresses, phone numbers and Web sites for AOCA members, including some with online discount offers.
Want more information about auto maintenance? Click here!
Why Change Your Motor Oil?
Your car may be clean on the outside, but is it clean on the inside? The life expectancy of your car depends on your answer. Motor oil gets contaminated by substances like dust, metallic shavings and even antifreeze. And did you know that the additive package, which is part of your fully formulated motor oil, will break down in time and become a contaminant, too?
As contaminants are whipped into the oil, sludge is formed. This sludge will stick to parts of the engine causing the engine to perform less efficiently. Eventually, this sludge can cause engine failure.
Neglecting oil changes is hazardous to your engine's health, especially if you drive under severe driving conditions, which most people do. Severe conditions include making short trips, driving in stop-and-go traffic, extended idling, driving in dust or dirty air, towing trailers and cold weather driving.
Changing your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km miles or 3 months, whichever comes first, is generally recommended. However, you should follow the recommendations in your owner's manual. Even a car that is not running will get oil contamination as a result of accumulated moisture. If the car isn't run long enough to get rid of the moisture, it becomes damaging.
Your AOCA member lube professional can help you determine the best oil change schedule for your car and your driving conditions.
Why Change Your Oil Filter?
How do you prefer your drinking water - clean or mixed with dirt? Your car engine would answer the same way regarding motor oil.
The oil filter's job is to remove oil contaminants. It sifts out the solid particles while allowing the oil to flow unrestricted through the engine. When the oil filter becomes full or "clogged," the oil and contaminants will flow around the filter. This "by-passing" is a safety mechanism. As far as your engine is concerned, dirty oil is better than none at all. However, when by-passing occurs, contaminants head straight for the engine where they can eventually cause permanent damage. Studies also show that fuel economy and emissions are adversely affected during by-passing.
Protect your engine by having your AOCA member lube professional change your oil filter every time you change your motor oil. Changing your oil filter on a timely basis will help keep your engine drinking clear, clean oil!
Why Change Your Air Filtration System?
Clean, fresh air! You live better with it and so does your engine.
Your engine's air filter captures airborne contaminants, like bugs and dirt, out of the air before they enter your engine. Each gallon of gasoline burned by your engine requires 10,000 gallons of air - that translates into a lot of contaminants being sucked into your air filter. Left unchanged, dirty air filters can lead to poor acceleration, lower gas mileage and poor engine performance.
We can all breathe cleaner air by having our PCV valves and breather elements changed regularly. The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve and breather element process exhaust fumes to reduce air pollutants. Changing PCV valves and breather elements helps the air filtration system do its job effectively.
Your air filtration system - air filter, PCV valve and breather element - should be replaced approximately every 9,000 miles/15,000 km, or according to the recommendations in your owner's manual.
Ask your AOCA member lube professional to check these filters so you and your car can breathe easier.
Why Check Transmission Fluid and Filter?
You and your wallet reap the benefit!
Replacing your automatic transmission filter and fluid at recommended intervals will save you time, money and aggravation.
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) keeps the moving parts of the transmission lubricated so they can run smoothly. ATF is a specialized, high quality lubricant with as many as 15 additives designed to meet the special lubrication needs of an automatic transmission. The goal of most engine lubricants is to reduce friction as much as possible. Automatic transmissions, however, need a certain amount of friction to give the proper feel when shifting. Many different ATFs are available. Your AOCA lube professional will choose the ATF that is right for your car.
The automatic transmission filter protects the moving parts of a transmission by removing harmful metal filings and abrasive particles from the transmission fluid. It keeps the fluid clear and clean so it can cool and lubricate the transmission properly.
Ask your AOCA member lube professional to check your automatic transmission fluid level each time you have your oil changed, especially if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving or towing with your vehicle.
Why check your gear boxes?
Well-lubricated manual transmission and gear boxes mean smooth driving for you and your car!
Gear lubricant is a special oil formulated for the extra lubrication needs of gear boxes such as the manual transmission, the differential, the steering gear box and the transfer case in four-wheel drive vehicles. These gears perform best when operating in a pool of oil.
Normal use of your vehicle will subject these fluids to high temperatures which break down the fluid, causing it to become gummy. Once gummy, the oil loses its ability to lubricate properly which can cause abnormal wear on gears, even leading to axle failure.
Gear box fluids get low. If too low, bare metal contact and higher heat can occur causing premature wear on parts.
Differential fluid is one of the least checked fluids. Your vehicle's differential is a gear box that allows your vehicle's wheels to turn at different speeds. Well-lubricated differentials can help reduce tire wear, give you better road traction and steering stability.
Gear box lubricants should be serviced between 12 and 24 months or between 12,000 and 24,000 miles (19,000 to 38,000 km), depending on your vehicle and its individual driving conditions. Owners' manuals give specific recommendations.
Ask your AOCA member lube professional to check the levels and quality of your gear box lubricants so you and your car get the smooth drive you both deserve.
Why Check Tire Inflation?
Properly inflated tires give you a smooth, safe and less costly ride!
Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires protects against excessive tire wear, gives you the best ride and allows you to handle your car safely. You should check your tires' air pressure when the tires are cool. Most tires require air pressure of between 32-44 PSI (pounds per square inch). Tires should generally be filled according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Both over inflation and under inflation cause excessive tire wear.
Most late model cars have Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems that notify you when the tire pressure is too high or too low. A manual check of the pressure is still good practice to ensure optimum inflation for fuel efficiency.
Tires are costly, so you will want to get maximum wear out of them. Having your tires rotated regularly will give you a smoother ride and will extend the life of your tires by making sure they wear evenly. Whether you have radial or non-radial tires will determine the type of rotation required.
Convenience is the reason you should have your tires rotated at your AOCA member fast lube. When having your oil changed, simply ask if it's time for a tire rotation. Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles/12,000 km or as specified in your owner's manual. Why make a trip to the tire store? Let your AOCA member lube professional take care of your engine and your tires.
Why Change Your In-Cabin Air Filter?
A clean filter means a breath of fresh air.
A cabin air filter is a mechanism that keeps air inside the passenger compartment of your car from becoming stale and unhealthy. Some consumers are not even aware their car has a cabin air filter. Many newer model cars have the component tucked away inside the dash or elsewhere where it is not easily seen.
Although hidden, a cabin air filter performs a very important function. Not to be confused with an engine air filter, this piece of equipment removes contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold spores, and other small particles from the air that circulates through your cars heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and into the passenger cabin.
To keep air quality at its best, filters should be replaced according to manufacturers' recommendations, generally once a year or every 15,000 miles/24,000 kilometers - more frequently if you drive in dusty or industrial environments. Regularly changing cabin air filters also can maximize the life of your cars HVAC system by reducing debris and corrosion on the evaporator core.
Cabin air filters stop most airborne particles, and some are even capable of eliminating odors. That's welcome news for people with allergies and others concerned about air quality. Changing a cabin air filter is a quick process on most vehicles, and the cost is minimal. Ask your AOCA member lube professional if your vehicle needs a cabin air filter change. You'll breathe a whole lot easier.
Automotive Oil Change Association
12810 Hillcrest Road, Suite 221
Dallas, Texas 75230
800-331-0329 or 972-458-9468
972-458-9539 (FAX)
info@aoca.org
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