When researching how to get the lowest cost of ownership from your vehicle, Consumer Reports, as well as many others, agree that your long term costs will be minimized by keeping your vehicle for as long as possible. Because cars are an expense rather than an investment, it makes sense to keep those expenses minimal. Cars depreciate rapidly so it makes sense to purchase a 3 or 4 year old one because it has already depreciated by 40 to 50%. Wolfson Automotive LLC can perform a thorough pre-purchase inspection on a vehicle before you purchase it to make sure it’s in good mechanical condition. Whether you purchase a brand new car or a used vehicle, the key to a long life is summed up in one word: maintenance. The single most important service for any vehicle is timely oil changes. This means changing the engine’s oil and filter every 3,000 miles (or 5,000 miles for synthetic oil). Do NOT follow the manufacturer’s recommendation if it’s more than the above intervals! Car manufacturers all want to market their vehicles as having the lowest cost of ownership so they stretch out the intervals to make the cost of upkeep appear attractive. When your car is due for its oil change, that means getting it done within 100 to 200 miles of when it’s due. I’ve had many customers over the years who “forgot” to get their oil changes done and then bring them in when they are 3,000 mile overdue! This is not a good way to enhance your vehicle’s life. The cost of an oil change is literally peanuts compared to performing the complete engine overhaul that was required because of infrequent oil changes.

Aside from the ever-critical oil change, there are many other fluids in your vehicle that need regular attention. Brake system flushes are probably the second most neglected maintenance item. When brake fluid is not changed/flushed, copper particles and moisture build up in the fluid and will cause internal corrosion and component failures in your braking system. Calipers and wheel cylinders can seize up or start leaking when this important item is neglected. We can easily test and inspect your brake fluid and determine whether a flush is needed. Most manufacturers recommend this service every 2 to 3 years.

Other fluids that need regular attention are engine coolant, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, and differential lubricant. Wolfson Automotive LLC has the equipment and expertise to handle all of your fluid services.

Any amount of money you save by neglecting vehicle maintenance will be lost many times over once the neglected maintenance has inflicted major damage to your engine, transmission, brake system, or drive train.

Other maintenance items such as drive belts, timing belts, filters, and spark plugs must also be serviced regularly to prevent costly breakdowns and extend the service life of your vehicle.

Another advantage of having your car regularly maintained is that other items needing attention will be noticed by an observant mechanic and can be repaired before a problem arises.