When you get a new car from your Fort Worth ford dealer there is something important you should have in your mind. The car will need regular maintenance to ensure that it is always reliable. Just like your body needs a regular health check-up from your doctor, so does your car. History has taught us that prevention is always better than having a cure. Hence maintaining your car will protect it from regular breakdowns. Even with hard economic times, there are certain areas regarding vehicle maintenance that you cannot ignore.

The first thing you should do to ensure your vehicle stays in good condition is by changing the engine oil at the appropriate time. How long the oil will last for depends on the oil type you are using. There are three oil types available in the market namely synthetic, conventional and full-synthetic. If you are using conventional oil, you need to replace it after 3,000 miles. For a synthetic oil blend, you have to change your oil after 5,000 miles and in the case of full-synthetic oil, you can go for 10,000 miles. Failure to change the oil when the threshold is reached can lead to complex problems such as oil seal problems and engine sludge. Oil sludge is the main cause of engine damage that leads to leakages. It will also add extra costs for having your engine flushed. Sometimes a problem that could have been prevented with a simple oil change will lead to complex problems that require the vehicle to be tied down in the auto repair shop for weeks.

Another area that should be properly monitored is the fuel system. Although newer Ford vehicles do not rely on in-line fuel filters, older models still use this system. If your car uses this system, you should replace it after 19,000 to 29,000 miles. Replacing the fuel filter in time ensures the fuel pump lasts longer. There are also fuel injector cleaners available in the market that you can use to clean your filters. For better results, replace the filter before using the cleaners. You should also check the fuel type you use since fuel injectors usually clog due to regular use of cheap gasoline. Cheap gasoline contains waxy oilfins which, when accumulated, leads to clogging. Good quality gasoline contains detergents that prevent deposition of the oilfins.

Another area that should be properly maintained is the cooling system. Before going for a cooling system service, be sure of the type of anti-freeze your vehicle uses. Most of the new cars in Fort Worth have long lasting anti freeze compounds that last up to five years if the vehicle is used only for normal driving. However, these compounds are expensive compared to the ordinary anti-freeze compounds. Your car manual should indicate when it is best to go for the replacement.

Finally, the belts and hoses should be replaced at least once every two years. This however does not mean you have to wait until the two years are over and they are showing signs of wear. The best time to replace them is every 100,000 miles regardless of their condition since most belts start fail at this time. If you keep these points in mind, your car will remain in a good condition for years.