It takes a little work to maintain your automobile and keep it in good working order, but you don’t have to be an auto genius to keep it operating smoothly.
The most challenging part is knowing what has to be done—and how often—for optimum vehicle maintenance. You’ll ensure that your automobile is in excellent working order by understanding the fundamentals of what it needs when you should do essential vehicle maintenance. If you own a truck, you also need to have the heavy-duty components looked at regularly or replaced when necessary.
It’s also worth noting that automobile maintenance expenses, while not always cheap, may help you prevent expensive repairs in the future.
Some of these vehicle components should be checked regularly, while others only after a long time. Keep track of when your car needs maintenance and service, as well as the maintenance schedule and service interval record.
Change your air filter every 12,000 miles
Your car’s air filter traps dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles from getting into the engine. If this filter is not replaced regularly, your car’s performance will start to decrease, and you’ll find yourself needing an expensive air filter replacement.
Why 12,000 miles? Experts say this is the point at which your air filter will have trapped the maximum amount of dirt and particles.
Check fluid levels and tire pressure monthly
Since this is a long-term check, you must use a schedule that allows for enough time to drive your car and check the tire pressure.
Under-inflated tires can lead to poor gas mileage and severe safety issues from tread separation.
If you own a hybrid vehicle, keep an eye on the brake pads
Brake pads in hybrid cars are designed to last longer than regular vehicles. However, this doesn’t mean you should never check them. It’s a good idea to inspect them every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
After a year, the brake pads will have been used the most and should be inspected for wear.
Replace wiper blades twice a year
If you have this done at the dealership, their technicians will likely tell you when your blades need to be replaced. Wiper blades also suffer from wear and tear.
The blades will work better and streak less if they’re replaced twice a year.
Check your engine oil every 5,000 miles
Engine oil is responsible for keeping the moving parts of your engine lubricated. If this isn’t done regularly, your engine could start making noise and eventually seize up.
Have your car regularly serviced at the recommended time intervals
Just because you check your vehicle doesn’t mean it needs servicing. Checking your vehicle is only half the equation to keep it in good working order. You also have to get your car serviced at the recommended time intervals so that everything is okay.
Checking regularly will ensure a well-running vehicle and avoid breakdowns when you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Change tires after 30,000 miles
As a car gets older, you may have to start replacing its tires with newer ones. This is a gradual process and will happen between every 30,000 miles.
Tires don’t need changing all at once—they go through different stages of wear and tear before being changed completely.
The treadwear tire patterns may also vary from one side of the tread to the other or from one tire to the next, depending on factors like car alignment, usage, and many more.
Tires that are not appropriately rotated can develop cracks, and this will cause them to wear out more quickly. If your tires haven’t been rotated in a while, or if you’ve recently changed the air pressure, they should be done so every few months. Treadwear is also eliminated when you rotate your tires.
Keep your headlights clean for maximum visibility when driving at night
Not only is this good for safety, but it can also improve your driving experience.
Keeping your headlights clean will help the maximum amount of light hit the road when you’re driving at night. This will make your drive more accessible and safer.
You can clean your headlights by using a mixture of water, toothpaste, and baking soda. Avoid using any chemical cleaners as this can cause damage to the lens.
Replace fuses as needed
If you notice that lights are flickering on and off, it might be time to replace the fuse.
If your car’s electrical components are not working that well or flickering on and off, then you should check your fuses. This is especially important if the vehicle is in storage.
Grease fittings yearly
This will make sure you can open all doors without any problems in the future. Not only does this keep everything working smoothly, but it can also help you avoid costly repairs in the future.
By following this car maintenance checklist, you can ensure that your car is always in good condition and running smoothly. Just be sure to check your car manual to make sure you’re doing the right thing and following the correct schedule.
