If you’re someone that lives in the suburbs but works in the city, you’re no stranger to spending a lot of time in your vehicle every day. In fact, you’re among an estimated 11 million Americans who drive an hour or more to work each day, or the nearly 2 million drive 90 minutes or more. With all of these extra miles being put on your vehicle each week, regular maintenance is all the more important, as it will need to be done more often to prolong the life of your vehicle. Here are some maintenance tasks that you should be having done more often than the average driver.
Air Filters
Your vehicle is equipped with two different air filters: one keeps debris out of your engine, and the other helps keep the air in your cabin clean. Both of these filters perform important functions for the health of both yourself and your engine. More time on the road means these filters will become dirty more quickly, and require more frequent replacement. If the engine air filter is allowed to become dirty, it can reduce your fuel efficiency, meaning more frequent trips to the gas station.
Tires
It goes without saying that the more miles you drive, the more often you’ll have to put new tires on your vehicle. A quick way to tell if your tread is becoming too worn is the old penny trick: place a penny upside down in the tread, and if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to change them. One way you can help prolong the life of your tires is by having them rotated regularly, typically every other oil change.
Brakes
Another part prone to wear and tear from long commutes are your brakes, especially if you get stuck in traffic frequently. Allowing your brake pads to become too thin can cause damage to other parts of your braking system. An easy way to tell if your brakes need to be replaced is if you hear them squeaking or squealing when you apply pressure. Brake pads have something called an indicator, which is a small piece of metal buried into the pad. When it rubs on your rotors, it squeaks or squeals, letting you know that they are wearing out and need to be changed.
Alignment
Alignments are a maintenance task that typically only has to be performed every two to three years, but if you’re a commuter, chances are you’ll need to have it done every year. As you hit things like potholes and speed bumps, your steering system can get knocked out of alignment, which can cause uneven or excessive wear to your tires.
Fluid Checks
Even if your vehicle doesn’t have any fluid leaks, there is always the chance that one might develop. Keeping up on checking your fluid levels will alert you to any possible issues, and allow you to top them off if necessary. When you get your oil changes performed at any neighborhood Chicagoland Jiffy Lube®
Oil Change
Motor oil helps lubricate all of your engine’s moving parts, keeping it clean, cool and protecting it from wear. Each vehicle has its own oil change schedule recommended by the manufacturer, which you can find in your owner’s manual.
When it comes to having a reliable team to help you keep your commuter vehicle running strong, you can count on your neighborhood Chicagoland Jiffy Lube®! Our Signature Service® Oil Change is more than just an oil change. We check, change, inspect, and fill essential systems and components of your vehicle. When we’re done, we vacuum the interior of your vehicle as well as clean exterior windows.
We also have you covered for the next 3,000 miles with complimentary fluid top-off service on vital fluids including motor oil (the same type of oil purchased originally), transmission, power steering, differential/transfer case and washer fluids. Just stop by within 3,000 miles of your service mileage, and we will top off up to two quarts per fluid, as needed.
Jiffy Lube® recommends following manufacturer recommendations, where applicable, for maintenance schedules and service intervals.
Not all services are offered at each Jiffy Lube® location. Please check with your local Jiffy Lube® service center for specific services offered.