Vehicle maintenance you can do between Jiffy Lube® visits.
Learn what you can do to help maintain your vehicle's longevity and value in between your visits to Jiffy Lube®.
Car Maintenance Checklist
The best way to keep your vehicle healthy is to keep it clean and lubricated. Maintenance "musts" include changing filters and oil on a regular basis. These basics are the most important part of any maintenance regime and they're also relatively inexpensive. If you do these things regularly, you can help maximize your vehicle's life.
Important filters include:
oil filter
engine air filter
fuel filter
automatic transmission fluid filter
PCV/Breathers
cabin air filters
Most vehicle manuals recommend that you service your vehicle more frequently if you drive in "severe" conditions. Most drivers are surprised at what counts for severe driving. In fact, for most drivers, "normal" driving habits are actually "severe"!
"Severe" driving conditions include one or more of the following:
driving in stop and go traffic
driving in extremely hot or cold temperatures
driving at prolonged higher engine speeds
taking multiple trips averaging 5 to 10 miles in length
frequent cold start-ups and shut downs
extensive engine idling
towing and/or hauling heavy loads
driving in dusty or muddy conditions
driving in mountainous terrain
Protect your car with proper maintenance to counteract the effects of severe driving.
Tire Tread & Pressure Check
Under- or over-inflation of tires can:
cause uneven tread wear
weaken your tires
reduce traction
impact gas mileage
reduce the number of miles you get out of your tires
Eventually, you could have inconvenient flats or even dangerous blowouts. Over-inflation means the weight of your vehicle is not distributed evenly across the entire tread but is instead concentrated on a thin strip in the center. Under-inflation means the tire is soft and the outside edges work harder than the softer center. The extra rolling resistance makes your vehicle work harder to move and it can reduce gas mileage.
Be sure to check your tire pressure regularly and maintain the recommended pressure listed in your vehicle's owner's manual. You can usually find this recommended pressure on a sticker posted in the trunk, on the door pillar or in the glove compartment.
Each of your tires will wear differently due to its position and the type of vehicle you own. So tires will wear evenly, remember to balance and rotate your tires according to manufacturer's recommendations.
To check tread wear, use "the penny trick:"
1.
Insert a penny into the tread groove with Abe Lincoln's face showing, but with his head upside-down.
2.
If you can see all of Abe Lincoln's head, it's probably time to replace your tires
Oil and Filter: Time For a Change
To keep your oil clean and your engine healthy, it’s important to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.
Also check your oil level with the dipstick, if applicable, every time you fill up with gas. Check your oil for:
bubbles or foam
a milky appearance
a strong smell of gasoline
These signs could mean you have water or fuel contamination or your oil level could be too high. Take your vehicle to Jiffy Lube® or another trusted technician right away.
If you change your oil yourself, be sure to dispose of the used motor oil in an environmentally responsible manner. Call your local Jiffy Lube® — you can take used oil to many Jiffy Lube locations to have it recycled.
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