People tend overlook or put off routine car maintenance. The philosophy seems to be if it is not broke do not fix it. While that may be true in some circumstances, car maintenance is not one of them. Do not wait until there is a major problem to take care of your vehicle. Waiting too long can cost you hundreds of dollars or more in major repairs. The best schedule for your car is the one in your cars auto manual. The manual that comes with your car customizes the list especially for the engine in the make and model of your automobile.
If the book is unavailable, a general checklist from an auto mechanic will work. Put a reminder on your cell phone or computer to remind you the scheduled maintenance is due. If you want to more precise, you can list the type of checks and maintenance that needs done at regular intervals. If at anytime your vehicle is not operating properly, have it checked. You know your vehicle better than anyone else does, so if you think there is a problem, there probably is. While no maintenance list is all-inclusive, checking the routine things regularly will extend the life of your car.
A vehicles engine operates using different types of fluids. If any are low, becomes ineffective or empty there is a good possibility of ruining your motor or transmission. Every three months or 3000 to 5000 miles check the water, anti-freeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid and transmission fluid. Change the oil in your vehicle because over time oil loses its elasticity. This causes the engine to work harder because proper lubrication no longer exists. Check the air pressure in your tires for optimum fuel mileage and even tread wear, making sure the lug bolts are still tight.
Follow the same list for maintenance at six months or every 8000 to 10,000 miles. Add replacing windshield wiper blades, check the tire tread depth, check the spark plug wires and clean the battery cables. At one year or 13,000 to 15,000 thousand miles, follow the same list for a six-month check. In addition, inspect all the car belts including the timing belt. Change the spark plugs, replace air and fuel filters, check for wear on the brake pads, and rotate your tires checking for uneven wear that indicates you car needs aligned.
If you do routine car maintenance yourself, it is not that difficult. If you hire it done, it is not overly expensive. Catching one problem before it causes major damage to your vehicle may save you enough money to pay for every routine maintenance check done throughout the lifetime of your vehicle.
