Preventive Maintenance for Cars, Trucks and Fleets In Missoula.

Preventive maintenance is the routine work that keeps a vehicle running right and catches problems while they're still small. It includes oil changes, fluid checks and services, filter replacements, and regular looks at belts, hoses, brakes, tires, the battery and the suspension. None of it is exciting, but it's the easiest way to avoid bigger repairs later.

Fluids do a lot of the work in a vehicle. Engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and differential fluid all break down over time, and each one protects parts that are expensive to repair or replace. Engine air and cabin air filters clog up. Belts and hoses crack and wear with age. Checking all of that on a regular schedule is how small issues get caught before they leave you stranded.

Every vehicle has its own maintenance schedule, and it's in the owner's manual. Many manuals list one schedule for normal driving and another for severe service. Towing, short trips, stop-and-go traffic, dusty roads and mountain driving usually count as severe. If that sounds like your driving, the severe schedule is probably the one to follow.

A lot of driving around Missoula fits that description. Mountain grades and towing put extra heat into engine oil and transmission fluid. Long highway stretches pile on miles. Harsh winters and big temperature swings work on the battery, belts, hoses and coolant. Keeping up with maintenance is how you stay ahead of that wear instead of reacting to it.

We handle maintenance for fleet vehicles as well as personal cars, trucks and SUVs. For a fleet, a regular schedule helps cut down on surprise breakdowns and the downtime that comes with them.

When your vehicle is in, we'll tell you what's due now, what's coming up and what can wait. If something is worn but still has life left, we'll say so, and you decide when to take care of it. The goal is an honest list, not a long one.