If you’re like most Americans, your vehicle is going to be one of your most expensive investments after your home. And just like with your home, in order to maintain a reliable and trustworthy vehicle, you are going to need to keep making regular investments to keep your car running smoothly. There are many places to consider servicing your car, but when you live in Chicagoland, Nissan service is always available right here at Thomas Nissan, thanks to our certified service center.
Thomas Nissan brings years of quality automotive service to the table, and you know you are in good hands when you bring your car to Thomas Nissan’s service center. But why should you consider regular car maintenance at all? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just save money on all those routine expenses and only bring your car into the shop when it has a real problem? The answer, my friend, might surprise you.
What does regular car maintenance entail, and why is it so important? Some of the most obvious maintenance requirements include regular oil changes and tire rotations. These are typically what people think of when they think of routine maintenance. However, there are other things your car needs you to stay on top of if you want it to stay in tip-top shape.
Depending on your specific vehicle, as well as the type of oil you use, it is recommended that you get your car’s oil and oil filter changed every 3000-7000 miles. This kind of upkeep keeps your engine running smoothly and prevents premature problems such as engine seizures. However, it is also recommended that you regularly check, change, and top off other fluids such as the transmission fluid, washer fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and engine coolant. Making sure these vital fluids are full and in good shape will ensure all the components of your vehicle will keep running smoothly and dependably.
As your vehicle’s mileage increases, it will become time to check items such as your battery and brake pads. If your battery is too old, you will not be able to start your engine, and if your brakes are too worn down, it will result in less efficient stopping abilities when you need them most. Staying on top of your car’s maintenance will not only keep your car’s resale value as high as possible, but it will also keep you and your family in a safe and dependable vehicle that you can count on.
You might think that spending money on unnecessary services such as fluid changes and tire rotations is a fruitless expense but think again. If you take good care of your car and stay on top of regular routine care, you might spend a few hundred dollars a year on these simple tasks. However, keeping on top of these simple tasks will give your vehicle the longest lifespan possible.
If you skimp on these regular recommendations, you might save yourself a few hundred dollars on oil filters, but compare that to the cost of replacing a failed engine? New engines cost an order of magnitude more than oil filters, and that’s assuming the engine is the only thing that needs replacing. Failure to stay on top of simple service tasks might just cost you the price of a brand new car. Wouldn’t those quarterly trips to the service shop be much more preferable to buying yourself a brand new car every two to three years?
Staying on top of your car’s regular maintenance will also keep you within the requirements of your vehicle’s warranty. Most vehicle warranties require that you stay on top of all recommended service checks in order for more expensive repairs to be covered. Skipping just one routine oil change could result in all kinds of unexpected costs that would otherwise have been covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
There is also the resale value to consider. People shopping for a used car are more likely to pay a higher price for a vehicle that has proof of regularly scheduled maintenance as opposed to a vehicle with no verifiable history. Even if your car never had any expensive issues, those regular trips to the service center could increase your car’s resale value significantly, especially if you can provide proof of that maintenance. That could mean a difference of thousands of dollars, depending on the age of your vehicle when you decide to sell it. As you can see, taking care of your vehicle in the short term will save you money in the long run.
When it comes time to find a dependable Chicagoland Nissan service center, look no further than Thomas Nissan. We have a long history of providing our customers with the best service possible. Our certified technicians are also trained on a large variety of cars, so you know that you’re getting the best experience you possibly can no matter what you drive. Some of the most common services you will find at Thomas Nissan include:
All these services and more are readily available to customers of Thomas Nissan’s Chicagoland service center. It’s easy to set up an appointment online, or give us a call and tell us exactly what work you need to have done. We will treat your car as if it were our own, and we will do our best to get you back on the road in a reliable car in no time.
Whether you've purchased a new or pre-owned model, your vehicle is an investment, and it's your responsibility to protect that investment. This starts with routine maintenance like oil and filter changes. Your owner's manual is your best resource for your vehicle's maintenance since it lists the recommended interval for oil and filter changes for your specific make and model. However, it doesn't answer why oil and filter changes are so important. That's where we come in!
Your engine is made up of many moving parts like valves and pistons. These parts move at high rates of speed to power the engine and propel the vehicle. This movement creates friction and heat, just like what you experience when you quickly rub your hands together. For an engine, excessive friction and heat are detrimental, which is why oil is vital to an engine's performance and longevity.
Oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine so that the components work seamlessly and more efficiently. At the same time, oil also reduces friction and cools the engine. With the oil maintaining the engine's optimal temperature, the engine works more efficiently, and that results in better gas mileage and overall longevity since the engine doesn't have to work as hard.
As the oil lubricates and cools the engine, it also removes dirt particles and other debris that are detrimental to an engine and lead to corrosion. Over time, this dirt and debris turns the oil into sludge and reduces the oil's effectiveness. This is why routine oil changes are vital to your engine's performance and longevity.
How often do you hit potholes in the road? Have you ever cut a corner too close and hit a curb? Let's be honest, it's hard to dodge every pothole, and it's easy to misjudge a corner, especially when you're navigating a congested area with narrow roadways. But did you know that potholes and curbs can lead you back to your Nissan service department?
Potholes, curbs, and minor accidents are common causes that lead to suspension misalignment. Your suspension connects your vehicle to the wheels. Hitting a pothole, curb, or another object jars the suspension and can push it out of alignment. When this happens, your vehicle has to work harder than necessary since the contact point between the tires, vehicle, and road has shifted. This causes your tires to wear unevenly, which is not only dangerous but reduces the life of your tires.
So, how do you know if you need a tire alignment? You'll notice uneven tread wear on your tires or that your steering wheel is off-centered when you're driving straight. Your vehicle may pull to the left or right, your steering wheel may vibrate, or you may notice greater road noise in the cabin. You may also see a decrease in fuel economy as your vehicle works harder.
Once you notice any of these indicators, it's time to bring your vehicle into our Nissan service center for an alignment. Our technicians will measure and adjust the camber, toe, and caster angles of the tires. The camber angle is the tilt of the tire as measured from the front of the vehicle. The camber can be positive (angled away from the engine) or negative (angled inward toward the engine).
The toe angle is measured from above and is a lot like the view you have of your feet when you're standing. Pointing your toes inward is a toe-in alignment, while pointing your toes outward is a toe-out alignment. The caster angle measures the steering axis from the side of the vehicle. A negative caster means that your vehicle's steering axis tilts toward the front bumper, while a positive caster indicates the axis tilts toward the windshield.
By adjusting camber, toe, and caster, our technicians properly align your tires to reduce uneven wear and potentially hazardous driving conditions. When tires are properly aligned, you'll find your vehicle burns less fuel because it doesn't have to work as hard. In turn, you'll enjoy greater fuel efficiency and get more life out of your tires.
Most newer vehicles are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system that constantly monitors the air pressure in your tires. You can also check the pressure with a traditional gauge when you add air to the tires. However, when these alerts start becoming more frequent, it's a strong indication that you have a leak and that it might be time for new tires.
One of the quickest ways to check the tread on your tires is by using a penny. Insert the penny into the tread with President Lincoln's head facing down. If you can see Lincoln's entire head, then the tread on your tires is low, and that means it's time for a new set of tires. Many newer tires eliminate the need for the penny test and come with tread wear indicator bars. Located in the groove of your tire, these bars aren't easily spotted on new tires and only become more visible with tread wear.
Uneven tread wear is another sign that your tires might need to be replaced. Uneven tread wear is caused by improper inflation or misalignment, both of which can be detrimental to the tire if not fixed in time. If your tires are underinflated, you'll notice the tread is worn on the edges, while overinflated tires typically wear out faster in the center.
Visually inspecting your tires is just as important as measuring the tread and ensuring they're properly inflated. Your tires are made from rubber, which can dry out and crack with age. Cracks and bulges in the sidewall can lead to a blowout, which is hazardous. Bulges indicate a weak spot in the tire, while cracks indicate age. If you see the cords of your tire, then the tread is entirely gone, and you're driving on the support structure of the tire itself.
Climate also has a lot to do with the longevity of your tires. If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, then you'll find that you have to replace your tires more frequently. Frigid winter temperatures can make tires brittle and stiff, which leads to air leaks and faster tread wear from loss of air pressure or underinflation. Extreme heat has the opposite effect and can lead to overinflation, rubber breakdown, and blowouts. Since most tire pressure monitoring systems don't alert you to overinflation, it's important to check the pressure manually using a gauge.
Your brakes are your vehicle's only stopping power, which means they're vital to your safety. How does your brake pedal feel when it's engaged? Does it feel loose and push to the floor easily? Are your brakes slow to respond when the pedal is depressed? If so, then it's time to have your brakes checked.
Listen closely when you engage your brakes: do you hear grinding or squeaking? A small metal shim built into the brakes is designed to squeak when it's time to replace your brakes. Grinding, however, is a more serious problem and indicates that the brake pads are completely worn, forcing the metal caliper and brake disc to rub against one another.
When you apply the brakes, does your vehicle drift to the left or the right? Just like your tires, your brakes can wear unevenly. Uneven wear in your brakes can lead to uneven levels in your brake fluid since some brakes work better than others.
If your vehicle vibrates or pulsates when you engage the brakes, then your rotors might be warped. Warped rotors happen more frequently on vehicles that are tasked with towing heavy loads or navigating terrain where you constantly have to engage the brakes, such as steep mountains. These harsh conditions put a lot of pressure on the brakes and create excessive friction, which can cause the rotors to overheat and warp. You can reduce this risk by occasionally stopping to let your brakes cool off.
With our years of servicing cars, you can be sure your vehicle is in good hands at Thomas Nissan. Our service center is open at convenient hours, so you can easily find a service time that fits your schedule. While you’re waiting on your vehicle, you can enjoy our free customer wifi and fully stocked self-serve coffee bar and refreshment table. Of course, we also provide our customers with free cable TV to enjoy while you’re waiting.
If your vehicle’s service will take longer than you want to spend sitting in our lounge, we also offer loaner vehicles so that you are not left without transportation while your car is in the shop. And when you are ready to pick up your car, you will get it back after a complimentary car wash so you can drive away with a squeaky clean vehicle you can feel proud of. As you can see, there are so many reasons why Thomas Nissan is known for providing the best Chicagoland Nissan service. So what are you waiting for? Schedule your service appointment today!
