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auto body prep-work to do yourself

When you take your car in for auto body work, the mechanic will have a lot of work to do. Each minute that the mechanic spends prepping your car to make the repairs is money that you will owe when the repairs are finished. So, is there anything that you can do to make the mechanic's job a little easier and lower the cost of the repairs for you? This blog is all about preparing vehicles for auto body repairs. Here, you will learn what prep-work you can do at home so that the repairs are completed more quickly and the cost is less.

auto body prep-work to do yourself

Truck Owners: 3 Important Maintenance Steps That Can Prevent Costly Repairs

by Jeremy Hudson

Trucks are incredible machines because of their versatility. They're also pretty expensive to fix. So that you're not left dealing with expensive repairs on a regular basis, you'll want to remember these truck maintenance steps. 

1. Keep the Tires Aired Up

It's important that your truck's tires are always aired up correctly. If they're not, you could experience a blow and potentially lose control. You could then get into a serious accident that would have easily been avoided had you inspected your tires' PSI (pounds per square inch).

Every couple of months, take PSI measurements of each tire. With these figures, compare them with the ideal tire pressure range according to your tire manufacturer. If these figures are not in the ideal range, you'll need to make the proper adjustments. If you keep having to put more air in a particular tire, you should have it inspected for leaks.

2. Change the Air Filter 

The air filter plays an important role in your truck's engine. It prevents dirt and debris from entering the engine. If this were to happen, your engine could overheat and break down prematurely. This would be a costly issue to repair.

That's why you need to regularly change out the air filter so that it can do its assigned role correctly. When replacing this filter, make sure you know what size to get. Look at the dimensions of your older filter and get one that's exactly the same. It might also be a good idea to purchase a reusable filter so that you can save on filter replacement costs. 

3. Check the Transmission Fluid 

For your truck's transmission to work smoothly and not overheat over the years, it needs the right levels of high-quality transmission fluid. Fortunately for you, checking these levels isn't that difficult. After locating the transmission dipstick underneath the hood, take it out of its housing, wipe it down, and insert it back so you can see where the transmission levels are. 

If they're not close to the 'full' line, more transmission fluid should be added. If the levels are correct, you should still check the oil's consistency and color. It shouldn't have a sludge-like consistency or be dark. If it does, you need to replace this oil immediately. 

Owning a truck is great from the standpoint of all the things you can do with it. Just make sure you put a lot of time into its maintenance. When you do, you won't have to constantly worry about costly repairs throughout the year. Contact a company like Downtown Garage & Auto Body to learn more. 

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