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It’s sort of a running joke, year-in and year-out. We all set New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, get more exercise, watch less TV, eat better, etc. etc. and always, within a month or two, end up not sticking to them. Here’s a New Year’s Resolution that shouldn’t be too hard to keep, though – take better care of your car.

We don’t just mean throwing out all the chip bags and soda cans and vacuuming out the interior. Remember that when you take care of your car, it’ll take care of you for a lot longer time. Considering how hard everyone is trying to work a dollar bill these days, that just makes good sense, doesn’t it?

·         Oil changes: Just like with your dad’s car decades ago, the best way to get the most miles out of your engine is with regular oil changes. Letting the oil go until it’s the color of black coffee means that you’ll end up with accumulated sludge and deposits in the engine that increase wear and shorten engine life. You might consider switching over to full-synthetic oil; in terms of wear reduction and overall protection, synthetic outperforms conventional oil across-the-board. It’s considerably more expensive per quart, but the upside is that your car can easily go 10-15,000 miles between oil changes with synthetic oil.

·         Wash and Wax: Yes, it’s great driving a freshly-washed-and-waxed car, but it’s more important than just having a car that looks great. There’s still more winter weather to come, and a wash-and-wax job will protect the finish against the rigors of winter, including road chemicals, grime and dirt. It’ll help with your resale value as well…people are a lot less interested in buying a vehicle with a worn, faded, oxidized paint job.

·         Tire rotations: Here’s one that doesn’t even cost you money, as long as you bought your tires from us at Alignment Center and Alaska Car & Truck. Tire rotations are important to ensure that tires all wear evenly, enhancing the tires’ service life. It’s advisable to rotate tires at about a 6,000 mile interval, which coincides with the recommended interval for an oil change. Why not have them both done at once, while the car’s already up on a lift?

·         Transmission service: This one tends to slip a lot of people’s minds. Over time, varnish-like deposits can form as your transmission fluid breaks down, killing its ability to cool and lubricate internal transmission parts. It’s especially important to perform regular transmission service on trucks and vehicles that see hard miles like pulling trailers or hauling heavy loads. Manufacturers’ recommended service intervals for transmissions vary; check your odometer and service records to see when the last flush/service was.

·         Wheel alignment: Nobody likes fighting with the steering wheel of a car that constantly tries to pull to one side. It’s annoying and tiring, and it’ll wear your front tires long before their time. If your car took a hard hit on a curb or pothole and is trying to steer toward the ditch (or the left lane) all the time, do yourself a favor and have a wheel alignment performed.

·         Cooling system: How long has it been since your car’s antifreeze/coolant has been changed? Regular cooling system flushes prevent corrosion from building up in the radiator and other components, and help your coolant do a better job of protecting against freezeups or overheating.

When your car’s running great, it’s easy to just forget about maintenance and take it for granted that your car’s going to keep running fine. That way lies trouble, though – it’s so much easier to spend a little money now rather than spend a lot of money later when something really goes wrong! So go ahead and put maintenance and auto repair on your list of New Year’s Resolutions. Give us a call and make an appointment at Alignment Center and Alaska Car & Truck in Anchorage, AK and let us help you get the New Year off to a good start!