You've probably seen commercials for motor oil and other maintenance products promising improved performance, smoothness, and efficiency. While keeping up with maintenance will ensure that your car runs as well as it should, you shouldn't think of these tasks as a way to boost performance. Instead, giving your vehicle the care it deserves has a more crucial function: saving you money.

Instead of thinking of your car as a single machine, it's better to think of it as a complex collection of components that need to work together reliably and efficiently. When one piece fails, it can place additional stress on other parts, ultimately leading to costlier repairs. Keep reading to learn about three ways preventative maintenance can prevent these failures, ultimately saving you time and money.

1. Reduce Internal Wear

You probably know that your car has an internal combustion engine, but what does this mean? The innocuous-sounding name hides the explosive truth: your car creates mechanical force by generating intense, controlled explosions that drive pistons and ultimately turn the crankshaft. In other words, your engine must withstand immense amounts of energy and heat during regular operation.

Without lubrication, the friction and high temperatures within your engine would quickly wear down and destroy its internal components. While these parts may last for many years or decades with proper upkeep, ignoring routine oil changes and other preventative maintenance tasks can quickly lead to repairs that can cost thousands of dollars.

2. Maintain Factory Specifications

Modern vehicles are carefully engineered machines that adhere to strict manufacturer specifications as they leave the factory floor. Of course, real-world usage creates wear and tear that quickly causes even the best cars to fall out of spec. Worn tires, aging suspension components, and loose steering connections can leave your car feeling a little tired and past its prime.

Unfortunately, these problems do more than just reduce the driving experience. Worn parts can also lead to additional issues. For example, a drifting alignment can cause your tires to wear down more quickly, reducing road safety and forcing premature replacement. Maintaining your car's suspension and steering keeps it within factory specs, helping you prevent even more expensive repairs.

3. Catch Problems Early

Keeping up with a regular preventative maintenance schedule means that you or your mechanic will spend more time under your hood, ultimately providing more opportunities to spot problems before they become too severe. Like health issues, many automotive problems only worsen over time, leading to repairs that cost more and require your car to spend longer in the shop.

A solid preventative maintenance schedule is one of the best ways to catch problems before they get out of hand or even leave you stranded. Avoiding the cost of an emergency tow can often be worth the price of a few preventative maintenance visits all on its own. Contact a local auto shop to learn more about preventative maintenance.