You rely on your vehicle to get to work, carry the kids to school, and run a variety of errands, so it is essential that you maintain it properly to keep it running reliably. Discount Towing & Recovery, the premier towing and roadside assistance service in Mountain Home, AR, knows from daily experience that if cars don't receive regular maintenance service, they're vulnerable to breakdowns that could leave the driver stranded. Below, they explain how often to service your vehicle so that you can avoid this inconvenience.

Regular Conditions

Under normal driving conditions, you should follow the maintenance schedule listed in your vehicle's owner's manual or have it serviced when the "Oil Change" light on the dashboard illuminates. However, if you do not have access to a manual or your car has no dashboard reminder, most car manufacturers recommend seeking oil change service every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. At this time, also have your service professional check and top off the other fluids, inspect belts and hoses, and replace air and oil filters as necessary.

Harsh Conditions

Under harsh or severe driving conditions, you should have the vehicle serviced more frequently: every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first. Severe driving conditions include the following: extreme heat, cold, or dust; frequent short trips that don't allow the car to fully warm up or oil to circulate; stop-and-go traffic common to city commutes; or towing a boat, trailer, or another object. All of these situations are hard on an engine, so the oil should be replaced more often under these circumstances.

Low Miles

Even if you hardly drive your vehicle and don't put the necessary 5,000 to 7,500 miles on it over the course of a year, you should nonetheless have it serviced annually. In fact, some manufacturers recommend six-month service intervals. Oil breaks down over time, even if the car isn't driven much, and engines that sit idle never get hot enough to evaporate moisture that collects due to condensation, eventually leading to corrosion. This is one of the reasons frequent short trips are considered harsh driving conditions: The engine never has time to get hot enough.

The above information should help you keep your car in fine condition and avoid sudden breakdowns. However, if you need roadside assistance in or around Baxter County, contact Discount Towing & Recovery. They offer fast, reliable service and perform jump-starts, fuel delivery, towing, and roadside tire change service at an affordable rate. They also sell pre-owned vehicles and used auto parts. Visit their website to view location details or call (870) 425-1775 to request a tow truck.