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Car maintenance is a crucial part of vehicle ownership. Taking care of your car by performing preventative maintenance helps ensure you have safe and reliable transportation. Use this guide to learn about common automotive maintenance issues. It’ll help you protect your investment and keep your car in top-running condition.
The Importance of Car MaintenanceWhen you perform car maintenance at regular intervals, it keeps your ride in proper working order and helps prevent expensive mechanical repairs down the road. When it’s time to sell or trade in the vehicle, having detailed service records can help boost its value. Vehicle maintenance does require an investment of time and money. But taking care of your car can often help you avoid major repair costs that follow a roadside breakdown. We make it easy to get maintenance pricing for your vehicle, so you’ll know how much you can expect to pay within your area. Also, know that failing to follow preventative maintenance guidelines could void the vehicle’s warranty. RELATED STORIES: Car Warranty Guide: Everything You Need to Know Scheduled maintenance check-ups address a vehicle’s fluid levels for brake and power steering systems, radiator coolant, and engine oil. Other items with significant safety purposes, such as brake pads and windshield wipers, should be checked routinely and replaced when necessary to keep them operating effectively. Automobile engines are complex machines containing many interconnected parts. Proper mechanical maintenance, including replacing spark plugs, drive belts, timing belts or chains, and changing air and fluid filters, is needed to identify problems and to keep the engine running as well as it should. How Often Should You Take Your Car in for an Inspection?Always follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. At the least, you should have your car inspected by a qualified mechanic every 12 months to look for problems. Please note that many vehicle manufacturers have replaced the familiar printed owner’s manual with an online version available through the manufacturer’s website. Some states require inspections for all cars or smog checks for annual registration renewal, depending on the county you live in and the age of your vehicle. These emissions and safety inspections evaluate only vehicle exhaust or essential safety criteria rather than a full mechanical inspection of the car’s health. Changing your car’s oil at a repair shop or dealership usually includes a multi-point inspection to check fluid levels, filters, and other components. In previous decades, a rule of thumb was to change a car’s oil every 3,000 miles. Since 2010, many vehicles use synthetic oil that can go up to 10,000 miles between changes. Manufacturers outline maintenance requirements such as oil changes and tire rotation. They also recommend inspection schedules or parts replacement when the odometer reaches 30,000 miles, 60,000 miles, and 90,000 miles, for example. Again, refer to the owner’s manual for your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. RELATED STORIES: Car Tires Guide: Everything You Need to Know Signs My Car Needs Maintenance DoneEven the most well-maintained car will encounter problems that require unexpected service. Often, the vehicle will let you know before it stops operating that there’s an issue needing attention. The “check engine” light or “service engine soon” indication on the dashboard aren’t the only clues that should prompt you to call a repair shop:
There are less obvious clues that something might be wrong with the car, and these signs can be intermittent or vague. Remember that you know how your car drives better than anyone does. If something seems different, it might be the start of a more significant problem. Contact a trusted mechanic at your local dealership or car repair shop when your vehicle isn’t performing well. Tell them what you feel and hear when the car begins acting up. Vehicle Maintenance ChecklistKeep up with a preventative maintenance schedule to maximize your vehicle’s lifespan and performance. Use this list to know what – and when – tasks should be done to help keep your car in proper working order. Service intervals can vary from make and model. Be sure to follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule, no matter how many miles you drive annually. Service Immediately
Monthly Check-up
3-Month Check-up
6-Month Check-up
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2-Year Check-up
Long-Term Check-up
These milestones for car maintenance are general guidelines and not an exhaustive list. Carefully follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations on scheduled vehicle service and use qualified mechanics to perform work on your car. Read Related Car Maintenance and Repair Stories:
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was originally published. What are 3 things you are responsible for maintaining on your vehicle?For proper vehicle maintenance, inspect the following:. OIL AND COOLANT LEVELS. ... . AIR FILTER. ... . TIRE PRESSURE AND TREAD DEPTH. ... . HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, AND PARKING LIGHTS. ... . OIL & FILTER. ... . ROTATE TIRES. ... . WAX VEHICLE. ... . TRANSMISSION FLUID.. What is proper vehicle maintenance?What does regular car maintenance include? On a regular basis, you should bring your car in for a car tune up as well as replace consumable items such as motor oil, radiator coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, wiper blades and brake pads.
Why is it important to know the maintenance schedule for your vehicle?Properly maintaining your vehicle will not only ensure its safety and dependability, but may also increase fuel efficiency as well as help maintain your vehicle's value. It is recommended to consult your vehicle's owners manual and follow its preventive vehicle maintenance schedule.
What should you do every 15 000 miles?Every 15,000 miles, you should get a new air filter. Inspect your battery and coolant every 20,000 miles. At 25,000 miles, most manufacturer's recommend you replace your fuel filter.
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