Purpose:
Engine oil lubricates, cleans, and cools critical parts of the engine. The oil's additives also help to suspend dirt, where it can be
drained at the next oil change.

Description:
Periodic oil changes and oil filter changes keep your engine clean on the inside. Contaminates such as dust, metallic shavings,
condensation, and even antifreeze can make their way into the oil, causing knocks and other engine problems. Additives can also
become a contaminant as they tend to breakdown over time. The best advice is to follow the guidelines provided in the vehicle
owner's manual, but every 3,000 miles or 3 months is a good practice for oil and filter changes. Many car manufacturers today are
recommending extended oil drain intervals for some drivers. However, if you regularly make short trips in your car, drive in
stop-and-go traffic, idle for extended periods, drive in dusty or dirty air conditions, tow a trailer or live in a cold-weather region, it's
best to stick with a 3,000- mile/3-month regimen.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
If you change your own oil, be sure to properly dispose of all waste. A single quart of used engine oil has the capacity to pollute
250,000 gallons of ground water. Never pour used oil down the drain or into the ground. Not only is it illegal, it's also harmful to
the environment. Used engine oil is converted for new uses, such as industrial fuel or lubricants. Put used oil into original oil
containers or other clean, plastic closed containers, with the contents clearly labeled on the outside and bring the used oil to a
facility that accepts used engine oil.

Source: Car Care Council

 

Use Valvoline and they’ll guarantee your engine for up to 300,000 miles.

Come to the AAA Car Care Center for regular oil changes and Valvoline will guarantee your engine performance for up to 300,000 miles.

Valvoline is proud that their oils are the first line of defense for your engine. They know that engines receiving routine maintenance using Valvoline products don’t fail, so they’ve decided to stand behind their products and the people that use them. In other words, you.

How can they do this? There’s gotta be a catch, right? Of course there are some rules around the Engine Guarantee, but you’ll see that they’re pretty obvious. There are basic limitations so that they could offer this program to as many Valvoline users as they could – that’s how confident Valvoline is in the quality of their motor oil.

The Valvoline Limited Engine Guarantee makes it easy to remember to change your oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. You will be sent reminders once you’ve enrolled your vehicle. Of course, we know with a busy schedule you can’t always change your oil at exactly 3,000 miles, so they’ve allowed you to change your oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

Enroll your car or truck in the Valvoline Limited Engine Guarantee. Change your oil regularly at the AAA Car Care Center. You will be making sure your engine lasts 150,000, 225,000 or 300,000 miles and beyond. Valvoline is there for the life of your engine!

Purpose:
When properly mixed, antifreeze and water provide excellent anti-freeze, anti-boil and anticorrosive properties.

Description:
Check your owner's manual for antifreeze usage specifications. Antifreeze, when mixed at a 50/50 ratio with water, provides
excellent anti-freeze, anti-boil, and anti-corrosive properties. In extremely cold environments, the ratio for standard ethylene glycol
can go as high as 70% antifreeze, 30% water. With DEX-COOL®, the maximum ratio of antifreeze to water is 60/40. Although
DEX-COOL® type antifreeze can be mixed with standard ethylene glycol antifreeze, DEX-COOL® loses its 5 yr. /150,000 life.
As such, it's best not to mix antifreeze types unless absolutely necessary. All coolants must be diluted with water at the proper
ratios and should not be used full-strength. Full-strength antifreeze actually has a lower freeze point than when mixed with water.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Generally, standard ethylene glycol type antifreeze should be changed every two years or 24,000 miles. Even though the coolant
freeze protection may test OK with a hydrometer (freeze protection only drops with extreme dilution, not with age), the additives
break down over time. When changing coolant, it also presents an opportune time to replace bad cooling system hoses. Leaking,
brittle, spongy, cracked, or rotted hoses should be replaced before new antifreeze is installed. Hose clamp connections should
also be checked to ensure that they're secure and free from leaks. If you decide to service your cooling system yourself, use
extreme caution: Opening a hot radiator or coolant reservoir/overflow tank can cause severe burns. Be sure that both the engine
and cooling system are cool before you begin any heating/cooling system maintenance or repairs. Because of lower hood profiles
and cramped engine quarters, it's also possible that your car may be equipped with an air bleed for the cooling system. Unless the
cooling system is bled properly, air may stay trapped in the system and cause erratic temperatures, or in extreme cases, engine or
cooling system damage. If you're unsure about any aspect of cooling system service, don't take a chance. Have your car looked at by
a professional service technician.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
The hydraulic system transmits and multiplies force as needed to provide braking action throughout the brake system.

Description:
The brake hydraulic system consists of the master cylinder, disc brake calipers (disc brakes), wheel cylinders (drum brakes),
hydraulic lines and hoses, and combination/proportioning valve. When you push on the brake pedal, the force of your leg generates
hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, which then flows through the hydraulic lines and hoses to the wheel cylinders and calipers.
The hydraulic force applies pressure through the wheel cylinders and calipers, forcing the shoes against the drums (drum brakes)
and the pads against the rotors (disc brakes). In the early 1960's, cars began using split hydraulic systems and tandem master
cylinders. Essentially, this divided the hydraulic system into two separate systems (front and back), ensuring proper hydraulic and
braking on one side of the system, if a leak developed on the other side. In the 1980's, some carmakers began to use diagonally
split systems, which took safety a step further. Instead of splitting the system into front and rear, the system was now hydraulically
divided into left-rear/right-front and right-rear/left-front. By maintaining one front and one rear brake, the result is more balanced
braking when the system develops a leak. By law, all of today's cars are required to use some type of hydraulically split system.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir regularly, ideally at every oil change. Most cars use semi-transparent
reservoirs that have level markings to make fluid monitoring easy. If you need to add fluid, use only the type of fluid recommended
in your car's owner's manual. Do not leave the cover off the master cylinder any longer than necessary; DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluids
attract water. Use extreme care when handling DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluid as it quickly destroys paint if spilled. On cars with disc brakes,
it's normal for the fluid level to gradually drop as the brakes wear. This fluid fills up the space left by the disc brake caliper pistons as
they move outward with brake wear. However, if you find that brake fluid needs to be added frequently, there may be a leak in the
hydraulic system. Have the system inspected as soon as possible by a qualified service technician. Your owner's manual may
specify periodic flushing and filling of the brake hydraulic system, which should not be overlooked. This is a service best left to
professional technicians, as many cars with ABS have specialized brake-bleeding procedures. Braking systems with ABS can also
generate extremely high hydraulic pressures, which can be dangerous. Once again, consult a professional service technician if your
car needs ABS or hydraulic system service.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
Removes heat and moisture from the interior of the vehicle and releases it to the outside air. When circulating in the system, refrigerant
also helps to move refrigerant oil to key parts throughout the A/C system.

Description:
The air conditioning (A/C) electro-magnetic clutch mounts to the front of the air conditioning compressor and electrically engages and disengages according to commands from the A/C system. Compressor designs may vary from one manufacturer to the next as to
internal design and components. The A/C system is divided into two sides: high-pressure and low-pressure. The low-pressure side
connects to the inlet of the compressor and the high-pressure side connects to the outlet, or discharge, of the compressor.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Symptoms of a low refrigerant charge include poor cooling and frequent engagement and disengagement of the A/C compressor. This
may also be accompanied by an engine that changes speed with the cycling of the A/C clutch and compressor. A low refrigerant charge
can also affect system lubrication, since good refrigerant flow ensures the flow of refrigerant oil. The phase out of R-12 created a hotbed
of confusion for motorists due to the introduction of numerous alternative refrigerants. In turn, these alternatives created confusion for technicians, who were then unsure as to whether an alternative was safe, or even legal, for use. Since R-134a has been the standard
refrigerant for nearly a decade, issues related to the R-12 phase out have faded away. Nonetheless, there are some important things to
keep in mind if your car needs A/C system service. First, A/C system service costs more than it did in years past. Specialized recovery and
recycling equipment, refrigerant identifiers, leak detectors, certification and training, and ongoing changes have increased the cost of A/C
service. The threat of cross-contamination, where different types of refrigerants wind up being mixed together, is a nightmare for most
technicians and shop owners. That's why it's wise to seek out a professional technician with a proven track record if your car needs A/C
service.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
A tune-up – or major service – is designed to keep your automobile in top running shape. It’s preventive maintenance, much like
your yearly visit to the doctor or dentist. A tune-up gives you peace of mind, knowing that you’re probably catching problems before
they turn into catastrophes.

Description:
Every vehicle is different. Once upon a time, tune-ups were recommended at every 30,000-mile interval. Times have changed and
electronic ignition, fuel injection and computers have entered the vehicle maintenance scene. We recommend that every vehicle have
a standard tune-up at least once a year. Today’s tune-up is more sophisticated, but some things remain the same. By having regular,
scheduled preventive maintenance done on your car, you’ll likely see longer life and improved performance.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Each vehicle has different needs, but a standard tune-up generally involves the following:

Checking filters. Some auto experts say that checking and changing filters on a regular basis may have more to do with your car’s
longevity than any other single factor. The oil filter helps remove rust particles and other solid contaminants from the oil. Replacing
the oil filter helps prevent unnecessary engine wear. The air filter removes airborne contaminants such as pollen, dirt, dust, and
debris by trapping them before they can enter the engine. This is a vital part of keeping your engine running smooth and efficiently. 
A clogged air filter prevents the proper amount of air to flow to the engine, which can cause your engine to use more fuel. In some
cases, a clogged air filter can cause damage to the Mass Air Flow Sensor, which can be very expensive to fix! The PCV filter helps
prevent oil breakdown and sludge build-up.

Checking spark plugs. Spark plugs are good indicators of engine condition. Replacement requirements vary but plugs and wires
should be checked and cleaned at least once a year.

Checking distributor cap and rotor. Both the distributor cap and the rotor are usually plastic and will deteriorate with age and use.
Cracks may develop, allowing moisture in. The metal contacts on both can then corrode, causing misfiring. These parts should be
replaced at recommended intervals or if showing any excessive wear.

Other areas that may be checked at tune-up time: brakes, clutch, fluid levels and oil level.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
Fuel injection delivers fuel to the engine in exactly the right amount for all engine-operating conditions. Not only does the system
provide better control for fuel economy, performance and emissions, it also does away with many of the maintenance
requirements of a carburetor.

Description:
Fuel injection consists of a throttle body to control airflow, the fuel injectors, various engine sensors, an electric fuel pump and a
fuel filter. The system is controlled by the car's power train control module (PCM), which makes all decisions for controlling the
injection system. Most early fuel injection systems used a throttle-body design, where one or more injectors were mounted on a
throttle body, resembling a carburetor. Use of the throttle body system faded away gradually as multi-port fuel injection became
more prevalent. Multi-port uses a separate fuel injector for each cylinder, located near each cylinder's intake valve port. Virtually
all engines now use multi-port injection.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
On cars with fuel injection, some carmakers don't recommend replacing the filter at all during the first 100,000 miles of "normal"
driving. Since "normal" usually constitutes severe driving because of less than normal conditions, it's best to replace the filter
every two years or 24,000 miles. A contaminated filter can restrict fuel flow from your car's electric fuel pump, eventually taking a
toll on its life. Frequent filter replacements remove all doubt about whether the filter may cause other problems down the road.
On 1996 and newer vehicles, your car's fuel injection system is integrated with a second-generation onboard diagnostic system,
known as OBDII.  The PCM stores a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) when it detects a problem in one of the monitored circuits.
A professional technician can access this information using a scan tool connected to the vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
Although many DTCs are sensor-related, it does not necessarily indicate a faulty sensor. There may be problems in that
sensor's circuit, or there may be several interrelated problems. Areas of the country with an emissions testing program are
placing added value on OBDII checks, where this technology may be used in place of tailpipe testing. The system also alerts you
with a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL), indicating that the system has detected a problem, which could cause excessive emissions.
This light is usually labeled SERVICE ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE. If the light appears, you should have its cause
investigated by a professional technician at your earliest opportunity. If the light flashes, the condition is more severe and must be
checked out immediately to prevent damage to the catalytic converter.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
Automatic transmission fluid serves a multitude of purposes. Among other things, it cleans, cools, lubricates, transmits force,
transmits pressure, inhibits varnish build-up and protects the transmission on a day-to-day basis.

Description:
Owner's manual recommendations on transmission fluid changes vary considerably and may go as high as 100,000 miles or more.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
For best results, have your car's transmission fluid and filter changed every two years or 24,000 miles. Always use the type of fluid
specified by your car's manufacturer. This information can be found in the owner's manual or on the end of the transmission dipstick.
The overwhelming majority of transmission failures are heat-related, and automatic transmission fluid breaks down rapidly when
subjected to high temperatures. Driving conditions such as trailer towing, quick stops and starts, ascending and descending
mountains, and wheel-spinning in slippery conditions are but a few scenarios that can devastate the life of the transmission fluid.
Although changing the fluid yourself is not difficult, it's probably best left to a qualified service technician. This is also a good time to
drain the transmission fluid from the torque converter, if possible. Consult your technician to see if this can be done.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:
The fluid lubricates and transmits the pressure needed for power-assisted steering.

Description:
Check the power steering fluid level at every oil change. Refer to your car's owner's manual for specific recommendations on the
type of power steering fluid to use. Fluids need to be compatible with hoses and seals and in some cases the recommended
fluid may be automatic transmission fluids such as Type F or Dexron®.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
It's possible to check the power steering fluid level when your car is cold, but it's usually recommended to check the fluid with the
car warmed up. Many cars today use a semi-transparent reservoir for power steering fluid, so look for a fluid level mark on the
outside. If the reservoir has no markings, open the reservoir's cap. There should be a small dipstick attached that provides the
level reading.

Source: Car Care Center

Purpose:
Proper wheel alignment reduces tire wear, improves fuel economy and handling, while increasing driving enjoyment and safety.

Description:
Wheel alignment consists of a series of interrelated measurements and adjustments that bring a vehicle's steering, suspension
and on-road driving characteristics into manufacturer's specifications.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Have your car's alignment checked once a year. Normal wear and road conditions can take their toll on your car's steering and
suspension system, possibly throwing the alignment settings out of specifications. For best results, seek a reliable alignment
shop and qualified technician who can perform a four-wheel alignment on your car. Traditionally, alignments have always been
associated with only the front wheels, but no longer. Consider this: The rear wheels set the direction of vehicle travel; the front
wheels steer the vehicle. Having all four wheels checked ensures directional harmony as your car goes down the road. Some
common symptoms of your car needing an alignment include uneven tire tread wear, pulling to one side, wandering, and an
off-center steering wheel. Start an annual routine of alignment checks and you won't have to experience reduced tread wear and
a loss of vehicle performance. While having your car's alignment set, it also serves as the perfect opportunity to balance your
car's wheels.

Source: Car Care Council

Purpose:Axle lube provides lubrication for the various gears and bearings in the rear axle of rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks.
Axle lube is also used in the front axle of four-wheel-drive light trucks. 

Description:Axle lubricant is a specially formulated oil that is capable of handling high-pressure loads. The lubricant comes
in various viscosities to meet different specifications. Axle lube may be formulated from mineral oil or synthetics.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:Have the axle lube level checked with every oil change. Check your vehicle's owner's manual
to find out the recommended interval for axle lube changes. Many manufacturers claim their axles as “lubed for life”, unless the
axle has been submerged in water. If you have a pickup or SUV, this may happen quite often, especially if you pull a boat. If this
is the case, have the axle lube changed at least once a year. In cold climates, you may want to consider changing the standard
axle lube to synthetic. Synthetic lubes flow easier in cold weather, improving lubrication. With a 4x4, this is doubly the case
because of the two axles. Always use a lubricant that meets or exceeds the manufacturer's lube specifications.

Source: Car Care Council