Routine Service to Keep Your Used Ford on the Road

Purchasing a car is like making a substantial investment. And as such, it’s essential to ensure that you recoup a proper return on what you put down. However, unlike other financial assets, it’s not simply a matter of putting down a sum of money and getting your dividends every quarter. Aside from the fuel costs and your monthly insurance premium, you also need to stay on top of the routine service that keeps your vehicle running smoothly. When you purchase a used Ford, you’re investing in your and your family’s quality of life. If you’re unfamiliar with the intricacies and procedures that come with routine service, we’re here to inform you. We want to show you how to keep your used Ford running in top condition. And at DePaula Ford, we have a top-tier service department that rivals any other Ravena used Ford dealer. Read on and keep those engines running!

Keep That Oil Fresh

One of the fundamental aspects of any automotive service is the oil change. While it’s always described as necessary, you might not be aware of just how vital it is to your car running in pristine shape. If you’ve ever placed your hand on the hood of a car when the engine is running, you might have noticed that it gets rather warm. Your engine is a mass of moving parts that all generate friction. And as you learned in science class, friction creates heat, and it’s up to the oil in your car to keep these parts adequately lubricated and running smoothly. As your engine runs, the oil breaks down and deposits gradually build up, which will hinder the performance of your engine. The use of synthetic oil can clean these deposits and prevent your engine from breaking down as quickly, but getting your oil changed regularly is the best way to prolong the life of your vehicle.

Rotate the Tires

When you bring your vehicle to DePaula Ford for an oil change, you’ll want to have your tires inspected and properly rotated. Your tires are a fundamental part of your vehicle’s operation, and having them rotated regularly is an essential aspect of your vehicle driving safely and keeping you safe. The best way to describe wear and tear on tires is to think of them as a pair of running shoes. The soles get slightly worn down every step you take, wearing on the tread, and your tires are very similar. Tread allows your wheels to grip the road and maintain control of your vehicle. When your tires are rotated, a technician can ensure that the tread isn’t worn in one place more than the others.

When a rotation is being performed, the technician might also check the sidewalls of your tires as well. Back to the running shoe analogy—if you’re out for your morning jog and the rubber on the sole of your shoe separates from the cloth, your shoes will be of no use, and you won’t be going anywhere. Proper inspection of the sidewalls of your tires means knowing if there’s too much wear or if it’s time for a new set of tires. If a sidewall ruptures, it can cause a blowout that can make you lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident.

Check the Brakes

Your brakes, much like your tires, are a crucial component that keeps your car running smooth and keeps you safe and sound. Proper brake service is much more than simply getting new pads from time to time. Your brakes operate through the use of friction. A master cylinder delivers pressurized brake fluid to a caliper. This, in turn, causes the brake pads to grab the rotors, generating friction to keep the wheels from spinning and put a stop to forward momentum. While this might sound complex, we provide this explanation to help illustrate that your brakes are a system of machines working in unison with one another.

While getting your pads changed from time to time is important, it’s just one piece of a much larger pressure. If brake fluid can’t be delivered, your brakes have a possibility of failing. We recommend getting them checked either before or at the beginning of summer. Our reason for this is that hot weather can sometimes hinder bad brakes. With the rise in temperature, old brake fluid may not function properly, and the last thing you want is faulty brakes during that summer road trip.

Don’t Forget Transmission Service

Your vehicle won’t start without a certain amount of gasoline in the tank. You won’t travel very far if your tires are flat. But you’ll be held in an oppressive stalemate if you encounter a serious problem with your transmission. You might not think about transmission service that often, simply because it’s not as common as oil changes, tires, or brakes. However, you may need to change the transmission fluid as often as every 30,000 miles, depending on your vehicle and the type of driving you do. Because this can be a delicate task, transmission service is always best left to the skilled hands and expertise of our trained and certified technicians.

While each vehicle is different, the transmission you have, be it an automatic or manual, needs to be serviced appropriately as a preventative measure to make sure your vehicle goes the distance for you. When properly maintained with routine service, today’s vehicles can last for upwards of 200,000 miles. But without getting your transmission serviced on a regular basis, your vehicle will break down sooner rather than later. If your transmission has a complete breakdown, getting a new one or having it rebuilt can be one of the costliest auto repairs you’ll ever experience. While all services are considered preventative measures, the philosophy behind transmission service is “pay a little bit now rather than pay a lot later.”

Monitor the Battery and Alternator

If you’ve ever been stranded because your car won’t start, you’ve probably needed a jump start to get going. But it may not be a problem with the battery––it could be another component that you haven’t considered. The battery in your vehicle works in conjunction with a device called the alternator. This charges the battery when the car is running. If your battery is having problems, it could be that it’s not holding a charge, or it could be that it’s not receiving a charge from the alternator. You might also want to ask the technician on duty that day to check the battery connections and make sure they haven’t corroded and still work properly.

Routine Maintenance Keeps Your Ford on the Road

Not only will routine service at DePaula Ford help keep your vehicle on the road and running smoothly, but it will also improve the resale value of your car. A vehicle that’s been properly maintained on a regular basis with genuine Ford parts will sell for a higher rate than one that’s been neglected by its owner. From regular oil changes and tire rotations to transmission service, we can handle it all here at our certified service center. Come visit us for all your routine service needs and enjoy the quality of life that you deserve.