Everyone in Reno, Nevada, knows we are advised to go to our Reno dentist twice a year.  Oral-conscious Reno residents have a teeth-cleaning and examination. Once a year, we get x-rays to look for problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye. When our dentist is done, he/she tells us what was found – “Everything’s fine, see you in six months.” Or “You’ve got a small cavity starting, let’s schedule an appointment to take care of it.” By the time you leave, you have a plan for addressing any necessary issues.

Certainly a much better system than waiting for a painful problem before going to the dentist. Small problems are fixed before they turn into big problems. And you avoid those huge bills.

If Reno folks understand the wisdom of using this system for handling dental care, why do many resist when facing the same system for our vehicle maintenance?

Following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended intervals can be confusing. First, the list of recommendations is dizzying: oil changes, transmission, coolant, air conditioning, power steering, brakes, fuel system, filters, belts, hoses, alignment, rotation, balancing …you get the point.

Every item has a recommended interval and it’s hard for Reno drivers to keep it all straight – even if you’re part of the 1% of Nevada drivers that read their owners’ manual.

The complexity is multiplied if you have more than one vehicle. You’d need a computer to keep track of everything. Well, that’s how your service center does it. For example, Wayne’s Automotive Center subscribes to automotive databases that have your vehicle’s recommended intervals. You may have wondered how they know what else to recommend when you take your car in for an oil change – it’s all in the database.

Well, it’s not all in the computer. There are other variables that can’t be accounted for in the schedule: Things like Reno weather conditions, altitude, and where and how you drive in Nevada. Talk about these things with your service advisor at Wayne’s Automotive Center and you may decide that the severe service schedule in your owner’s manual is more appropriate.

Since anything that’s not driving in moderate weather is considered severe and most of us do at least some of that around Reno, Nevada, it should be taken into account.

Let’s take your basic oil change as an example. What issues are involved? The motor oil in your vehicle is a blend of base oil and special additives. There are detergents to clean the inside of your vehicle engine and corrosion inhibitors. Quality motor oil will help your engine stay clean inside and run cool in addition to lubricating it.

Now, these additives deplete with use and time. That’s why most vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations include both a time and mileage element – like 3 months or 3,000 miles/5,000 km, whichever comes first.

It’s easy for Reno drivers to think, “Gee, I’ve only driven 2,000 miles/3,200 km in the last 3 months. I can wait on that oil change.” But you need to remember that the inside of your engine is an environment. The combustion by-products contaminating the oil begin to degrade the oil’s effectiveness even when the engine isn’t running.

Many people in Reno don’t realize how harmful it is to skip an oil change. Your engine has a great many metal parts moving around. Small bits of metal wear off and are floating around in your oil. These bits can be carried to more delicate areas of the engine where they cause damage. Your oil filter is designed to trap metal particles and other dirt, but if it’s clogged up because you haven’t changed it, it can’t trap any more particles.

Oil sludge is another problem for Reno vehicles. Sludge is oil that has turned to a gunky jelly – think “Vaseline.” Obviously, sludge doesn’t lubricate. It can also clog small oil passages so that all the parts don’t get properly protected by the oil. That’ll lead to premature wear.

If you’ve missed some oil changes, don’t despair. Just talk with the pros at Wayne’s Automotive Center. Fess up – you’ll feel better. And they can help you get back on track. Following recommended intervals is the key to keeping your vehicle out of the repair shop and on the road.