Posted on 12/19/2025
A new year is a good excuse to reset how you care for your vehicle. Most breakdowns we see do not come out of nowhere; they build slowly as small maintenance items are pushed back. With a few simple habits, you can keep your car starting easily, stopping confidently, and handling daily traffic without constant surprises. 1. Make Oil and Filter Changes Match How You Really Drive Oil does not just lubricate; it carries heat and contaminants away from critical parts. When it stays in service too long, it thickens, forms deposits, and loses its protective additives. That is when timing components, turbochargers, and bearings start to wear faster, even if the engine still sounds normal. Instead of aiming for the longest possible interval, base oil changes on your real driving. Lots of short trips, idling in traffic, and hot weather use count as severe service, which usually means sho ... read more