4 Reasons Your Vehicle Might Need Additional Service

 

4. You Drive A Powerful Performance Car

Most daily drivers like the Equinox SUV or Silverado 1500, or even a sporty option like the new Blazer SUV, are all designed to be as easy as possible to maintain. But the sophisticated engineering of something like a Chevrolet Camaro SS or Corvette ZR1 may require some additional maintenance. For example, summer performance tires may not be designed to last as long as a typical set of all-weather tires on a passenger car. You may have a sophisticated differential or suspension with unique needs. The important thing is to consult the maintenance guide that came with your owner's manual. Or, if you've lost it or purchased the vehicle second-hand, we can look up the right maintenance schedule for your General Motors vehicle in our system at the service desk.

 

3. Your Vehicle Encounters Harsh Driving Conditions

Luckily, without ultra-hot weather, ultra-cold winters, dense urban traffic, smog or dust storms to worry about, the environment of the Salem, Oregon area is relatively kind to our cars. These kinds of things can cause excess wear that means you might want to get more frequent oil and air filter changes to keep the engine protected. However, if you find yourself towing heavy loads up steep mountain passes, tackling unpaved roads or you simply like to drive with a bit of a heavy right foot, your vehicle might also need a little extra maintenance.

2. Your Vehicle Was Misused Or Used Incorrectly

Towing can put some additional strain on a vehicle even when used properly -- but improperly towing with a vehicle, such as adding a tow hitch to a vehicle not rated for towing from the factory, or towing an excessively heavy load that exceeds the vehicle's rated capacity, can cause serious damage to the drivetrain, or overstress the frame of the vehicle. These can create maintenance nightmares that can be costly to fix, or could continue plaguing the car for as long as you own it. For that reason, never street race, track race, off-road or tow with any vehicle which wasn't designed for those uses. It could be unsafe at worst, and at best could still cause damage to the vehicle.

 

1. Your Vehicle Was Not Properly Maintained

Routine, preventative maintenance is crucial for keeping your car in good shape over time. Some maintenance is preventative, meaning it might not seem like your vehicle really needs any work done. But regularly replacing brake pads, air filters, oil and other chemicals on your car will keep all its systems in better shape. That means they'll last longer, with fewer problems, and you'll pay fewer repair bills. If you're not sure what the preventative maintenance needs are with your vehicle, or you've fallen behind and you want to know what steps to take next, we invite you to consult with a friendly member of our service department team at Capitol!