Remembering to take your car in for maintenance repairs can be very beneficial for your car. Doing so will save you thousands of dollars in car repairs and a trip down to your local Utah auto repair dealer. It is important to keep proper care of your car.

There are some pretty obvious things that you can do to damage you car, such as crashing it. But what are some common things people do that can actually hurt their car? Here are our top list.

1. Keeping your foot on your brakes while driving down a hill: It’s best to let up off the brake to save the pads from wearing out quickly. A lot of people keep their foot on the brake the entire time down the hill. Doing so, however, will totally wear out your brake pads and can cause problems with your tires as well.

2. Not changing your car’s oil: Forgetting to Change the oil does not help the life span of your car. It has been proven that frequent oil changes can actually increase your car’s performance and double the life expectancy of your car. By the time your oil light comes on it is too late. Instead, change your oil according to your car’s manual, which is usually every 5,000 miles or so.

3. Not Using the parking brake: The parking brake is a very beneficial tool. People who do not use a parking brake, especially when the car is on an incline, puts a lot of stress on their car’s transmission and may result in your car rolling and crashing down the hill. Be sure to use a parking brake every time you park your car.

4. Cleaning your engine: Some people want to have a clean engine to go with their clean car. However, using a high pressure water hose can cause a lot of damage to your engine and dislodge important engine components to it. If you feel that your engine is being affected by its filthiness take it in to your local Utah auto repair shop and have the mechanics check it out. Remember that a dirty engine that runs well is much better than a clean engine that does not run at all.

5. Shifting before your car stops: Don’t make the mistake of not coming to a complete stop before they shift. Not stopping completely will ruin your driving shafts. If you do this often enough it will ruin your car’s transmission.

Take the time to change bad habits now so you do not cause more damage to your car. A lot of times we do these things without realizing it. Make good decisions and remember that taking care of your car is your best way to save money on major car repairs at a Utah auto repair shop.

Master Muffler is Utah’s leading muffler, brake and auto repair shop, and has 13 locations from Brigham City to Provo. Visit or call one of their locations for a free quote on how to improve your miles per gallon up to 30% for your car, truck or van. Visit their website at www.mastermuffler.net.