Myth Buster: Servicing cars seasonally…NOT!

Every Fall and Spring motorists are bombarded with advertising strongly recommending that your car be brought in for service...”Have your car ready for the COLD winter months or get ready SUMMER travel.”

Let me bust this myth!

The ads tell motorists to get all kinds of service tied to the time of the year. From Fall radiator flushes and fan belts checks to Summer tune-ups so you can get the best gas mileage on those family vacations.

BUT…if you follow the maintenance advice in your owner's manual written by the automotive engineers who designed your car you can hit the road in all 4 seasons even if you live (or your son/daughter goes to school with YOUR car) where the seasons are extremely different from good old New York State. You can actually plan a trip where drive starts in Yuma, Arizona (one of the warmest places in the US) and keep on going directly to the oil fields of Alaska. By following the owner's manual maintenance schedule you will be prepared for both climates.

Just follow those maintenance intervals! By the way…some intervals are based on miles driven…others by number of months. Make a copy of the maintenance schedule and keep in the calendar where you write down dental check ups and hair appointments. We typically only take out the owner's manual when there is a crisis or we have to put air in the tires ourselves and we know enough to check the manual for proper air tire pressure. So DON'T wait ---read the manual. What is on the maintenance list? Typically: Various fluid changes (oil, transmission, brake), spark plugs, timing belts, visual inspections of the brakes, suspension, tire rotation and so on.

PS…about having the car serviced before a vacation: Your vacation plans might have to change IF you haven't followed the recommended service AND your check engine light has been on for 2 weeks AND you are leaving for Florida tomorrow AND THEN you desperately call the shop for an appointment.