The Ultimate Vehicle Maintenance Guide
Keeping your trusty automobile in tip-top shape is crucial for ensuring longevity, reliability, and overall performance. Whether you’re a seasoned car enthusiast or a busy individual looking for practical tips, we’ve got you covered. Our mission is to empower you with valuable information, insightful suggestions, and expert advice to help you keep your car running smoothly and efficiently for years to come.
This ultimate vehicle maintenance guide will outline the complete vehicle maintenance checklist, basic car maintenance tips, intervals of car check-ups, and much more.
Complete Car Maintenance Checklist
It is vital to carry out proper vehicle maintenance and servicing after your car has completed a certain number of kilometers or if there are problems with its performance.
Visit your nearest service center to get your vehicle properly inspected by a professional mechanic, including the checks listed below.
This list has been carefully curated with a lot of research and input from trained automobile professionals. It will help you understand your car better and take good care of it.
Familiarize Yourself with the Car Owner’s Manual
Every car model comes with its own instruction manual. It includes everything you need to know about the make and model of your vehicle, from periodic maintenance schedules to vehicle specifications.
In some cases, you can find the manual in the glove compartment of your car. Nowadays, you can download all manuals directly from the company’s website in pdf format. In rare cases, you might be asked to enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to access the manual.
Each vehicle is different, and you should know the requirements of your specific vehicle model. Even if you service your car regularly, the maintenance tips in the owner’s manual will help drastically increase your vehicle’s longevity.
Tire Pressure and Tread
You should always maintain the correct tire pressure as the manufacturer recommends. It is most commonly listed on a sticker on the driver’s side door or inside the owner’s manual.
Tire pressure should be checked monthly, primarily if you use your car to carry heavy loads. You can do so yourself with a tire pressure gauge. Don’t forget to check the pressure of the spare tire.
Check the tire tread for any damage. It is measured in the 32nds of an inch. 6/32″ is considered good tire depth. If the tread depth is 2/32″ or less, your tire is worn out and has to be replaced ASAP.
Fluid Levels
The professionals will check all the essential fluids in your car and change them if required, but you should know where all the fluids are stored and how to check them.
We will discuss this in more detail below.
Here is a list of all the essential fluids that help your car and engine function smoothly:
- Motor oil
- Radiator coolant
- Wiper fluid
- Brake fluid
- Automatic transmission fluid
- Power steering fluid
Car Battery and Cables
Having your car battery checked twice a year is recommended to ensure it is securely placed, free of corrosion, and has no leaks. The battery and cables should be tightly connected too.
If the terminals of the battery are corroded, cleaning them with a solution of water and baking soda using a wire brush will remove the corrosion. Make sure the car is turned off when you do this. Always wear gloves and do not touch any corroded parts.
We recommend that you unfasten the battery terminals before cleaning them for safety.
If your car’s battery has cracks or leaks, you must replace it as soon as possible.
Belts and Hoses
One of the most critical components of your car is the serpentine belt. It constantly rotates to power the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor.
The timing belt, present in the engine, controls the engine valves and drives the camshaft. Typically, the timing belt has to be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.
Make sure to get the following belts checked regularly for signs of fraying, glazing, or cracking:
- Alternator belt
- Serpentine belt
- Timing belt
- Fan and drive belt
The hoses in your vehicle maintain a sufficient coolant flow to the engine’s components. It is essential to check them for signs of wear and replace them if damaged.
Engine Oil and Filter
Sludge can build up in your engine over time, affecting the engine oil’s ability to properly lubricate the engine’s moving parts. This is why getting the motor oil changed at regular intervals is important.
You should also get the engine air filter replaced if it appears dirty. According to Fuel Economy, the U.S. government’s official information source for fuel economy, replacing a clogged engine air filter will improve fuel efficiency and acceleration.
Tire Rotation
When you are at the service station, you should have your car’s tires rotated. Rotating the tires means changing the position of each tire, and you should do it periodically as the car manufacturer recommends.
Tires do not wear out uniformly. Depending on the driving conditions, some tires will be worn out more than others. Uneven tire wear can also result from poor suspension or improper alignment. Rotating them will ensure uniform wear and tear on all tires.
This will enhance your safety by keeping the driving surface even and improving traction on snow. It will also provide an even tread depth, contributing to a smoother drive.
Spark Plugs
The spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture, which powers the engine. They are small but play an important role in the engine’s functioning. In most cars, they need to be replaced after 30,000 miles.
If you do not replace the spark plugs in time, the buildup deposited on them will cause a misfire and severely damage your engine, costing thousands of dollars to repair.
Spark plugs are very cheap and easy to replace.
Brakes
You should get all the braking system’s components, including the brake pads, fluid, and linings. Excessive braking can increase the wear and tear on the brake pads and other parts.
It is crucial to address any problems with braking because your safety depends on it. You should also ensure that the brake lights are functional.
The mechanic will check the brakes by pushing the pedal, and if it emits a squealing, grinding, or rattling sound, the brake pads are too thin and must be replaced.
Filters
The cabin air filter in your vehicle cleans the air inside the car by removing harmful pollutants from the air as it circulates through the HVAC system of your car. They should be replaced annually, but refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual for instructions.
The other essential filters present in your car that need to be checked regularly are:
- Oil filter
- Fuel filter
- Transmission fluid filter
Importance of Routine Vehicle Maintenance
Some vehicle maintenance checks should be done regularly and periodically to ensure that your car is in top-notch condition and to maximize its performance.
Sometimes, you might put servicing the car on the back burner due to a busy schedule. But it is vital to take time out and get the car serviced promptly from time to time. The reasons for this are:
Repair or Replace Damaged Parts
While there are parts that last a lifetime, some car parts wear off faster and must be replaced more regularly. And if you are in an accident, whether a minor fender bender or a major collision, it could have damaging effects on your car.
Many other elements can wreck your car, such as flood damage in the rain, reckless driving habits, sun or heat damage in summer, etc.
Taking the car in for regular service is vital because an automotive professional can catch this damage early on and work to repair or replace the faulty parts.
Prolong the Vehicle’s Life
Just like our well-being depends on good health care, the lifespan of your car also depends on proper maintenance and servicing.
Every car owner experiences problems with their car’s performance after completing a certain number of miles, but these problems will arise much sooner without routine checks and servicing.
Regular vehicle maintenance will fine-tune the engine, improve your car’s performance, and significantly increase your vehicle’s longevity.
Higher Resale Value
A run-down house with visible flaws will not be worth much. But a well-kept house, on the other hand, will fetch a handsome price. The same is true in the case of vehicles.
Buying a new car can be expensive, so many new drivers prefer to buy second-hand cars to practice and fine-tune their skills. The market for second-hand vehicles is huge, and people will be willing to pay top dollar for good-quality cars.
But to attract prospective buyers, you need to keep your car in good condition, which includes regular servicing and maintenance. You will get a better price if the car is in top condition.
Improved Driving Experience
Regular vehicle maintenance improves your car’s overall performance. An automobile is a piece of complex machinery made up of many different parts. So, all of them must function properly for a smooth driving experience.
The engine is the most important component of your car and is susceptible to more wear and tear. If vehicle maintenance is neglected, sludge will start to build up in the engine.
You must stick to the vehicle’s maintenance schedule prescribed by the manufacturer to ensure regular checks, motor oil changes, etc.
Good For The Environment
You will drive better knowing that servicing your car will help to reduce your carbon footprint.
The emissions from your car are poison to the environment. These fumes increase due to clogged exhaust and unchanged fluids. Servicing will ensure the exhaust remains unclogged and fill in new coolants, engine oil, and other essential fluids.
Save Money in the Long Run
A famous saying goes, “Penny wise, pound foolish.” It means trying to save a small amount of money in the present will end up costing you far more in the future.
People try to skimp on servicing and think spending money on car maintenance is unnecessary. But if the technical issues in your car are not dealt with swiftly and promptly, they will become more significant problems and cost a small fortune.
Parts like spark plugs or brake pads are cheaper to replace. But the engine and the head gasket are expensive to replace and cost upwards of 3,000 dollars.
You should get your car serviced to nip any potential issues in the bud and save money in the long run.
To Avoid Warranty Coverage
If you check the car owner’s manual, you will come across a section on car maintenance and servicing. Every car manufacturer recommends specific intervals for car servicing. Not following the car maintenance guidelines can render the warranty null and void.
To keep coverage from the warranty, you must get your car serviced only by an authorized service center. Although getting the engine oil and air filters changed by an unauthorized center will not affect your warranty.
Ensures Safety
Imagine how inconvenient it will be to have your car break down in the middle of the road. You can avoid this situation with regular service. When your car is serviced, all the essential parts and fluids are checked and changed if required.
For example, if your brake pedals malfunction or the tires are worn out, they are more likely to cause an accident. You should get the necessary repairs done as soon as possible to avoid the risk of roadside emergencies.
Standard maintenance procedures ensure that your car is a well-oiled machine and that all its components function smoothly.
How Often Should Vehicle Maintenance Be Done?
Regular servicing keeps your car in the best possible condition. Car manufacturers have made it convenient to keep track of maintenance by developing a vehicle maintenance schedule at regular intervals.
This schedule is included in the vehicle owner’s manual and should be followed strictly. And you should keep the receipts for all vehicle services to protect your warranty.
We have also developed a general maintenance schedule, which works for all cars, and best of all, most of the checks mentioned can quickly be done by you at little to no cost:
Every 15,000 Miles
Inspect the following parts every 15,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. After inspection, clean all parts and repair or replace them if there is any damage.
- Fuel lines, fuel hoses, and connections
- Air cleaner filter
- Idle speed and control of the carburetor only
- Cooling system
- Brake hoses and lines
- Brake pads, calipers, and rotors
- Exhaust pipe and muffler
- Suspension mounting bolts
- Power steering pump, belt, and hoses
Consider replacing the following items every 15,000 miles
- Engine oil and filter
- Air filter
Every 30,000 Miles
Inspect the following parts every 30,000 miles or 24 months, whichever comes first. After inspection, clean all parts, adjust them, and repair or replace them if there is any damage.
- Drive belt (water pump and alternator)
- Fuel filter (carburetor)
- Vapor hose and fuel filler cap
- Vacuum crankcase ventilation hoses
- Spark plugs
- Ignition timing of carburetor only
- Brake fluid
- Rear brake drums and parking brake
Replace the following parts after the specific interval:
- Air cleaner filter
Every 45,000 Miles
Replace the spark plugs every 45,000 miles or 36 months, whichever comes first.
Every 60,000 Miles
Inspect the following parts every 30,000 miles or 24 months, whichever comes first. After inspection, clean all parts, adjust them, and repair or replace them if there is any damage.
- Timing belt
- Drive shafts and boots
- Air conditioning refrigerant
Replace the following parts every 60,000 miles:
- MFI fuel filter
- Carburetor fuel filter
Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions
Some car parts require servicing more often than others if the driving conditions are severe. This includes short-distance driving, extensive idling, towing a trailer, or driving in areas with cold weather.
Driving on rough roads, sandy areas, and mountainous regions will also increase the wear and tear of certain parts and require more frequent servicing.
You must service the following parts more frequently for cars driven under severe driving conditions:
- Engine oil and filter (every 6 months or 7500 miles)
- Spark plugs
- Replace the timing belt (every 60,000 km or 48 months)
- Brake pads, calipers, and rotors
- Rear and parking brake
- Air filters
- Fluids (every 40,000 km)
Make sure to properly and thoroughly inspect the parts for damage, leaks, deformation, and deterioration. All the hose connections should be tight and secure. Get a trained mechanic to replace the damaged parts and repair the leaks.
Disclaimer: The items and periods listed above can vary with vehicle models. We recommend you check the car owner’s manual for the accurate maintenance specifications of your car.
Different Types of Vehicle Maintenance
The type of vehicle maintenance can vary based on the purpose, such as routine checks, preventative checks to avoid failure of essential parts, or restorative maintenance to resolve existing problems with car parts.
Let us take a detailed look at the different types of vehicle maintenance:
Scheduled Maintenance
This type of maintenance is time-based and is done per the manufacturer’s guidelines. You should get your car serviced after traveling a set number of miles or sooner if there is an issue with its performance.
You can also call this preventative maintenance as it aims to prevent the failure of parts and diminishes the probability of malfunction or complete breakdown of certain parts. It will increase safety by eradicating potential mechanical issues.
This includes changing the engine oil, wiper blades, oil filters, washer fluid, air filters, brakes, battery, and other essential components.
Condition-Based Maintenance
Some maintenance procedures are condition-based because they are only required when alerted. There are many car warning lights, such as tire pressure warnings, check engine lights, oil pressure lights, battery alerts, etc.
When the warning lights turn on, a failure is about to occur. These lights alert you when something is wrong with the particular system, so you can get it fixed as soon as possible and avoid complete failure.
There could be a minor issue in the early stages of a system failure, which is harder to catch in routine checks. And since some systems don’t have warning lights, you can ask the mechanics to detect hidden failures.
Corrective Maintenance
This type of maintenance is done to install brand-new parts after a failure has occurred. It happens when you fail to prevent issues by taking your car for regular maintenance and servicing. Damage can also occur if you get into an accident.
Corrective maintenance will be expensive as it costs more to restore or replace damaged parts following a failure.
It is pretty inconvenient because your car might break down in the middle of nowhere due to engine failure, leaving you stranded. In this case, you must get your car towed, which will cost even more.
How to do Regular Maintenance Checks Yourself?
If you are not a trained professional or an automotive engineer, chances are you do not know the inner workings of your vehicle.
You might think it is convenient to get regular car maintenance done by a professional, but it is not practical or cost-efficient to frequently go to a mechanic when you can do basic checks yourself.
Here are some basic things every driver should be able to do:
Add Wiper Fluid
For safe driving, your visibility must remain unobstructed while inside the car. This depends on how clean the windshield is. The car’s windshield can get dirty for many reasons, such as dust, road grime, rain, condensation, smog, dirt buildup, and other impurities.
Every car has a washer fluid reservoir to keep the windshield clear of dirt and dust, which you can top up yourself at home. Just pop up the car’s hood, locate the reservoir opening, and pour in the windshield washer fluid.
Many replace washer fluid with water when they are in a bind or too lazy to go to the store and buy more. But you should never use water instead of wiper fluid.
The wiper fluid has chemical cleaning solvents and detergents that water lacks, making it a poor choice for cleaning the windshield. Water also freezes at 32°F (0°C), which will cease the windshield washing system in cold weather.
Replace Windshield Wiper Blades
Wiper blades move back and forth on the windshield to remove dirt, snow, water, or other buildups. You can activate the windshield wiper fluid and turn on the blades for better cleaning.
The wiper blades are one of the car’s most frequently used parts and can quickly wear out. When this happens, they will not make proper contact with the windshield and will start to smear the impurities rather than wipe them away, reducing the visibility and making it difficult to drive.
It is easy to swap out the windshield wiper from its arm and install a new one. You can do it yourself using only genuine parts or their equivalent. Usually, there is a button on the arm that you can push to release the blade.
Take the new blade and clip it on the arm. Clean the blades with a clean sponge or rag from time to time to remove any debris or road film.
Pro tip: Do not operate the wiper blades on dry glass because it will increase wear and tear. It could also leave scratches on the glass.
Check the Motor Oil
Engine oil, or motor oil, lubricates the engine’s components to keep them running smoothly, reduce friction, and help cool the engine parts. Engine oil is necessary for your car and should never run low.
It is super easy to check the engine’s oil level with the dipstick in your car’s bonnet. It has a circular orange or yellow handle and is easy to recognize.
Before you check the engine oil, ensure your car is on level ground and warm up the engine to bring it to its normal operating temperature.
Take out the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean rag. Insert the dipstick, withdraw it, and check the oil level. The dipstick has F (full) and L (low) marks. The oil level should be close to F.
Most newer models, such as a modern BMW, have electronic oil monitors instead of dipsticks for checking the oil level. Electric cars also lack a dipstick as they don’t have a crankcase.
Refill Motor Oil
If the engine oil is close to or below L, you must add oil until it reaches the F mark. You can top off the crankcase by removing the filler cap and adding the appropriate oil.
It is essential to use engine oil with a suitable viscosity. You can read about which oil to use in a hot or cold climate in the car owner’s manual.
Recheck the oil level and ensure you are not overfilling the engine, as it can lead to aeration or other issues.
Check the Engine Coolant
The coolant fluid is usually stored in a clear plastic reservoir, so it is easy to check the coolant level. There are marks on the reservoir to represent high and low levels.
Make sure your car is on level ground, and turn off the engine before checking the coolant. Once the engine is cold, check the coolant level from the side of the reservoir.
If the level is low, refill the reservoir to bring the coolant level between low and high. If the coolant level keeps dropping frequently, there could be a leak, and you should visit the nearest dealership for an inspection.
Warning: Do not open the radiator cap until the engine has cooled down. The coolant is under pressure when the engine is hot and can burst out when you open the cap, which can seriously burn or injure you.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we have answered the most commonly asked questions about vehicle maintenance that could help resolve any queries you might have.
What Should You Check In Your Car Every Day?
You should check some things in your car daily, starting with the tires. Make sure you don’t have a flat tire, and all of them are at optimum tire pressure. Check all the essential fluid levels, the brakes, and every warning light. Do not ignore the warning lights if they are blinking, and get the problem checked out as soon as possible.
What Is The 6-Point Check Driving?
You should do the 6-point check before driving off to ensure it is safe to move. This is a combination of visual and mirror checks. The 6-point check includes the following:
- Looking over your left shoulder (left-side blind spot).
- Looking in the left-side mirror.
- Looking through the windshield.
- Checking the rear-view mirror.
- Checking the right rear-view mirror.
- Looking over your right shoulder (right-side blind spot).
What Are The Signs Of A Clogged Fuel Filter?
A clogged fuel filter can cause the engine to misfire, reducing mileage and rough idling. The common signs of a clogged fuel filter are difficulty starting the car, engine stalling, loud noises from the fuel pump, and frequent sputtering. A clogged fuel filter will probably cause the check engine light to go on.
What Are The Signs Your Car Needs A Tune-Up?
A tune-up is when you take your car to a professional to check all its components for any damage or leaks and replace the faulty parts. You will know your car needs servicing when you notice poor fuel mileage, decreased brake capacity, and trouble starting the engine.
Conclusion
By now, you know all the maintenance checks your car requires, and you can even do some of them yourself at home as a precautionary measure. But if you are unsure, you should always go to an auto shop for assistance.
Always go to a car repair service shop that your vehicle’s manufacturer authorizes because they will have genuine parts for replacement, and they can keep track of your car’s service history and call you in when required.
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