So you go out to the driveway, turn over the ignition, and your car won’t start. What could it be? The battery? The engine? The gas you bought? It could be a number of things related to your engine and knowing what your engine does and troubleshooting with your trusted repair shop could help figure it out quickly and save you money. After all, no one knows your car as well as you on a daily basis.

First, a bad fuel mix can occur for several reasons. These include being out of gas so the engine is getting air but no fuel, your air intake is clogged so there is fuel but not enough air, the fuel system might be supplying too much or too little fuel to the mix and combustion does not occur properly, or there might be an impurity in the fuel. Second, there could be lack of compression. This may occur because your pistons are worn, the intake/exhaust valves are not sealing properly and allowing a leak during compression, or there is a hole in the cylinder. Third, there is a lack of spark or a weak spark. If your spark plug or the wire leading to it is worn, the spark will be weak. If the wire is cutting or missing, or if the system that sends down the spark isn’t working, the spark could also be weak. If the spark occurs too early or too late in the ignition timing cycle, the fuel will not ignite at the right time.

Or, if the battery is dead, you cannot turn the engine over to start. If the valves do not open and close at the right time or at all, air cannot get in and exhaust cannot get out, so the engine cannot run. If you run out of oil, the piston cannot move up and down freely in the cylinder, and the engine will seize. Engine parts that are worn may have been saved with regular oil changes.

Most mechanical failures can be traced to neglected maintenance. Having your oil and oil filter changed is likely to generate the single biggest return on your routine-maintenance investment. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. The regular oil change also establishes a benchmark of when your car’s maintenance needs are to be met. For instance, every third oil change can be the point at which the tires need to be rotated. Also, your recognition of what fluids had to be added may serve as the first warning sign that one of the systems is leaking. The need to repeatedly add coolant may indicate a leaking water pump, for example. According to thecarconnection.com, “the oil change provides the technician a chance to easily look for undercar problems. These would include torn CV boots, broken exhaust parts, or problems with the transmission or differential. Anything that’s broken, loose or excessively worn is in clear sight.” This makes oil changes less of a hassle when you know that it is worth the time. Visit a trusted auto repair shop and focus on the health of your car engine.