Over the years, cars have changed in both style and price. However, one thing remains constant: our need for them. Many of us would not be able to function without having our car to transport us from place to place. With this in mind, let’s look at this simple car maintenance checklist to keep you on the road.
1.) Tires. A tire inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) can lose one psi every month, so your car checklist needs to include checking tire pressure. Find the recommended level for your car in the owner’s manual or on a sticker on the driver’s side door. Be sure to have your tires rotated every six months to prevent uneven wear.
2.) Engine oil. Changing oil is critical in keeping your engine running efficiently. Follow the manufacture’s guideline for changing oil, which is generally every 3,000 miles or six months.
3.) Battery. A dead battery can quickly keep you off the road. Most car batteries are maintenance free and last more than three years, but trouble starting the engine is the first sign that it needs to be replaced.
4.) Check your fluids. This includes the automatic transmission fluid (ATF), power steering fluid and brake fluid. Follow all manufacturer’s recommendations for change intervals, which vary from 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
5.) Brakes. How often you need to replace your brake pads or other components depends on your driving habit and driving conditions. Warning signs of brake problems include noise, vibration or “grabbing” when you apply the brakes. Working on your brakes is a job best left to professionals.
6.) Air filter. You should change your engine air filter every 12-15,000 miles. A clean air filter helps your engine “breathe” better and improves gas mileage. For a list of car cabin air filters we sell, look at our Purolator filters to see which one best suit your vehicle. If you need help finding it, feel free to call us at 866-438-3458, leave a comment below, or Facebook us.
7.) Windshield wipers. Replace the blades every 6 to 12 months or when the rubber becomes worn. Check the wiper fluid reservoir frequently to keep it full.
8.) Headlights and brake lights. With your car on and parked, have someone walk around and see if your lights are working. This includes headlights, brake and tail lights, turn signals, etc. Replacing bulbs in today’s cars can be a challenge. Have a mechanic do the job.
An eight-step checklist for car maintenance can be all that stands in your way of driving your car or paying for expensive car repairs. Do you have extra tasks that should be added to this car maintenance checklist? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add it for you.
IMAGE CREDIT: motorsportsgear-us.com
Katie says
Brett,
Thank you so much for reading our blog post. We’re glad you found it helpful!
Katie says
Anna,
Thank you for reading our blog and sharing that it helped you identify I potential problem you have. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.
Anna Davis says
Thanks for explaining that vibration or noise when using the brakes could indicate that they are damaged or worn. For the past two weeks, my brakes have been feeling spongy and vibrate when I press the pedal. It sounds like I should have this checked out by a professional to see if I need new brake pads or any other repairs.
Katie says
Frank,
Thanks for reading our blog. We’re glad this information helped you make the decision to get your wife’s brakes checked!
Katie says
Peggy,
Thank you for sharing this information with us!
Katie says
Thanks for commenting, Akshay!
We appreciate you sharing feedback and other helpful tips!
Katie says
Amy,
This is great information. Thanks for sharing!
Amy Holland says
A car needs special attention to run smoothly for a long time. A car couldn’t last long without proper maintenance. So, everyone should be aware of certain car maintenance tips and tricks which is really essential to keep a car in working order. Different types of fluids used in the vehicle need to be inspected regularly and brunt lubricants should be replaced immediately to keep a car in working order. For more car maintenance tips, visit https://www.grouponemotorwerks.com/german-auto-car-care/
Katie says
Jenny,
Thank you so much for commenting and sharing this additional resource.
We appreciate it!
Jenny Fox says
I completely agree that routine maintenance of a car is really essential and everyone should know some of basic car maintenance tricks which is really essential to keep a car in working order. Newbies often ignore the importance of routine maintenance. Besides, a person should also have the ability to recognize the appearance of abnormal signs while driving a vehicle. Lack of such knowledge could have disastrous impacts on the performance of the vehicle. For more assistance, readers may like to visit https://carbahnautoworks.com/bmw-service/
Malia Davis says
Thanks for mentioning that the amount of time you can go before repairing or replacing your brakes depends on your driving habits. My daughter is not the smoothest driver, so I bet we will need to replace the brakes much sooner than the brakes on our other cars. We’ll have to get it checked within the next 6 months or so to make sure everything is in order so that she’s safe on the road.
Burt Brothers says
These car maintenance checklist must done regularly before you take the road. It is to make sure that your will not experience any problem while driving. Having a maintenance checklist schedule reminds you when to bring your car to the repair shop to change its parts.
Lillian Schaeffer says
Thanks for bringing to my attention the importance of checking the tire pressure regularly. I’m about to buy my first car, and I want to make sure I take good care of it and keep everything in good condition. Perhaps it would be a good idea to add tire pressure to my checklist of maintenance.
Lillian Schaeffer says
This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that vibration when braking can indicate problems. I’ve noticed recently when driving that the pedal kind of vibrates whenever I’m slowing down or stopping. I didn’t realize this was a problem, but I’ll definitely look into taking my car in to have the brakes checked and repaired. Thanks for the great post!
Kory says
It will depend on the car mechanic, but you would want to request for the car mechanic to check these things while getting the oil change. They’ll replace them as necessary, for whatever the cost is that they charge.
Nathan Johnson says
My wife and I bought a used vehicle last month that we are still excited about. However, I really want to make sure that the car lasts for as long as possible. These are all things that I have heard of but I don’t have any experience actually doing them. When I take my car to get an oil change, do car mechanics just check for these other things? Thanks for the info!