You rely on your car every day, and you have a lot of money tied up in it. It’s probably one of the more valuable things you own…so make sure you get the most out of that investment:

Oil changes: Changing your motor oil at regular intervals will ensure long engine life by cutting wear and friction and helping to prevent the buildup of sludge and carbon on internal engine assemblies.

Cooling system: Older cast-iron engines could overheat with no serious consequences, but not so with today’s aluminum blocks and heads. Your engine’s coolant has a finite life and should be changed and flushed at regular intervals to prevent accumulation of scale and corrosion in the radiator, heater core and water pump.

Finish: A good coat of wax does more than keep your car looking good. It also helps prevent rust from forming, helps to repel debris and dirt and keeps the paint in good shape.

Filters: The air filter is crucial to protecting your engine from dirt and particulates…but once the air filter gets clogged, it can smother performance (literally) and hurt fuel economy. The fuel filters and carbon canister filter should also be checked and changed if necessary.

Timing belt: Many vehicles are designed with a timing chain to coordinate the crankshaft and camshaft; timing chains usually last the life cycle of the vehicle. Timing belts, however, have a finite service life and even a few thousand miles past that recommended change interval is borrowed time. A broken timing belt can very literally result in a wrecked engine.

A little preventive maintenance and forethought can go a long way toward getting the most miles out of your vehicle!