FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- Many viewers chimed in on Facebook, wanting to know how much damage potholes can do to their vehicles.

To get some answers, KTVO headed to Fesler's Auto Mall to talk to one of their service technicians.

They told  KTVO that if a driver hits a pothole, it could cause damage to the vehicle's shocks, suspension, struts, tires, rims and alignment. 

"The best thing to do is probably just slow down, maybe try and straddle it if you can," said Bruce Ulin, a Fesler Auto Mall service technician. "If not, just slow down and go through it real easy because the harder you hit it, the more damage you're going to do." 

"If you bottom your car out, you hit your oil pan or knock a hole in your oil pan, then you've lost an engine."

Ulin says losing an engine could run your tab into the thousands.

He says the best thing to do is avoid the potholes, or hit them at no more than 5 mph, so you can avoid damaging your vehicle.