When Do I Need to…? A Guide to Recommended Service Intervals

No matter how well you treat your car, routine maintenance and repairs are inevitable. Luckily, you have the team at Silver Arrow Service to take care of all your auto repair needs in Derry, NH. Our team has years of experience working with all types of cars, so you can always trust us to do the job well. But as good as we are at our jobs, you need to know when to bring your car in for maintenance or repairs. Sometimes, it’s easy to know. For example, if something stops working or starts making a weird noise, you know you need our help. However, several preventive maintenance tasks need to be done before they lead to serious problems. How do you know when you need maintenance? That’s where recommended service intervals come in.

 

How do you know when you need auto repair in Derry, NH? Here’s a guide to help you follow recommended service intervals for most vehicles.

 

Oil Change and Filter Replacement

Changing your oil and filter is a basic maintenance task that everyone knows they have to do. When to do it, however, is another question. The general rule of thumb is to change the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or three to six months, whichever comes first. This rule is for regular engine oil; the interval is different for synthetic oil. If your car takes synthetic oil, you should change it every 7,500 to 15,000 miles or six months to a year. Changing your oil keeps your engine clean and running smoothly and protects the engine components from wear.

 

Tire Rotation

Buying new tires is expensive, but rotating your tires extends their lifespan, so you can put off that particular expense. Rotating your tires to different positions helps them wear evenly and prevent blowouts. By rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, you can extend their lifespan to 60,000 or even 75,000 miles.

 

Brake Inspection

Your brakes work by squeezing the rotors between the brake pads, so they wear down a little bit every time you use them. Over time, the rotors can warp, and the brake pads wear too much to be effective. Checking your brakes regularly ensures they don’t wear down until they are ineffective and dangerous. To catch brake problems early, you should check them every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.

 

Air Filter Replacement

Air filters are easy to forget about, but they have an important job. They catch pollen, dust, dirt, and other debris and keep it out of the engine. When dirt builds up on the outside of the filter, it can no longer effectively keep debris out of the engine. To keep your engine clean, replace your filters every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.

 

Come to Silver Arrow Service for auto repair and maintenance in Derry, NH. We work with all foreign and domestic vehicles.