Oil & Oil Filter Changes
Consider the oil system of the vehicle as to the blood of a human being, without proper filtration, contaminants will start to build up, which results in problems that arise over time. Depending on the type of oil used, the grade of the oil, how much oil is used, and the rate at which it is moving throughout the system, the oil of any car or truck will need to be changed frequently. If full synthetic oil is used (which is recommended on newer production vehicles), a vehicle should normally receive an oil change every 5,000. If conventional motor oil is used, the oil should be replaced every 2,500-3,000 miles. All oil changes should include a new oil filter (which is important to replace at every oil change because if the filter isn’t replaced, the oil pressure will increase, as there is less room for the clean oil to move freely).
Air & Cabin Filters
The air filter allows for the air intake to breathe fresh, which allows the vehicle to stay cool and repel foreign particles. The cabin filter allows for the vehicle’s air conditioning system to stay fresh, making sure that the interior of the car is clean and safe from contaminants. Over time, the air and cabin filters build up dirt and grime, resulting in poorer air quality. The safest bet is to replace these filters every 20,000 miles (although it depends on the model).
Brake Fluid
Over time, the braking system loses fluid. Higher mileage vehicles lose fluid quicker, but all vehicles lose more fluid when braking harder. The fluid lost is mostly minuscule; however, the braking system accumulates dirt, dust, and iron build-up. This requires a brake fluid flush around 30,000 miles or every three years (whichever comes first). As the same with most maintenance, the intervals strictly depend on the specific vehicle and how they were used.
Coolant/Antifreeze Replacement
The cooling system allows for the engine to operate at normal temperature. Without a proper running cooling system, this can result in catastrophic engine failure. To prevent that, the coolant (which is antifreeze and water) is required to be replaced. A good maintenance interval for a coolant flush is around 40,000 miles, or whenever a cooling system part is replaced, for Audi’s. Other vehicles can run hundreds-of-thousands of miles without a flush, but the main point is that Audi’s are superior vehicles that require a lot of care.
For granted excellence and great value in automotive repairs in Asheville, you can count on Mostly Automotive. To learn more about basic car maintenance, or to schedule an appointment, Mostly Automotive can be reached at 828-253-4981.