Imagine yourself driving to work, and you feel your engine sputtering and smell exhaust in the car. You pull over to the side of the road to inspect the issue. Suddenly, your car dies.
You certainly don’t want to start your day this way. While you cannot prevent car emergencies completely, you can minimize such incidences by following a simple car maintenance schedule. Nothing gives a motorist peace of mind like driving a car they know is in good condition.
This blog post outlines the best steps to keep your car in great shape and save money on auto repair.
The Significance of Scheduled Car Maintenance
Caring for your vehicle and keeping it in good running condition requires dedication and effort. However, you don’t need to be a mechanical expert to keep your car in good shape. You only need to understand the right things to do and how frequently to do them.
When you understand your car’s basic needs and when to perform routine vehicle maintenance, you can rest easy knowing that your car is always in excellent running condition. While vehicle maintenance is not always cheap, it helps you prevent costly repairs in the long run.
Proper vehicle maintenance also helps preserve your car’s value. If you keep your car running well, you can ask for a decent amount when you decide to sell it. So the question is, what is the ideal car maintenance schedule?
Generally, car manufacturers recommend a 30-60-90 maintenance schedule. That means you must inspect, change, or replace certain components at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles.
It’s worth noting that some auto parts, such as windshield wiper blades, tires, rubber gaskets, and hoses, usually wear out at irregular intervals. You need to check these items periodically and fix them accordingly.
That said, let’s take a deeper look at the actions you should take on your vehicle at various service intervals.
Maintenance After Every 3,000 to 7,000 Miles
It is critical to change the engine oil and filter regularly. You don’t want carbon, tiny metal particles, and dirt buildup to wear your engine out. You should replace the oil and oil filter as per the manufacturer’s recommendation or take your car to a mechanic if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Most manufacturers recommend oil and oil filter change between 3,000 and 7,000 miles. That said, cars using synthetic oil can work efficiently up to 10,000 miles before the oil needs changing, though this isn’t guaranteed.
It’s advisable to check your engine oil levels at least once a fortnight and before a long trip. Checking the transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, tire pressure, and windshield washer fluid levels is also paramount. Many manufacturers also recommend a tire rotation every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to promote uniform wear.
15,000 to 30,000-Mile Service Interval
Your vehicle’s engine won’t breathe efficiently with a clogged air filter, negatively impacting performance. You can prevent this problem by replacing the air filter every 15,000 miles to 30,000 miles.
You also need to inspect the coolant and battery every 20,000 miles. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the fuel filter every 25,000 miles. The power steering fluid also needs replacing after every 30,000 miles.
It is also critical to check the HVAC system, radiator hoses, brake pads, and suspension system at these intervals.
35,000 to 50,000-Mile Service Interval
You may need to change the battery every 35,000 to 50,000 miles, equating to most batteries’ lifespan of four to five years. Spark plugs and wires usually need replacing every 40,000 miles. Most owner’s manuals recommend inspecting the ignition system every 45,000 to 50,000 miles.
60,000-Mile Service Interval
At the 60,000-mile interval, you should revisit some components, including the radiator hoses, brake fluid and pads, power steering fluid, and coolant. You also must ensure the tires, suspension components, and HVAC system remain in good shape.
Bottom Line
Sticking to a car maintenance schedule will help extend your car’s life, minimize emergency breakdowns, and prevent costly repairs. This article is a general guideline on routine car maintenance; maintenance schedules may differ between vehicle models, age, and other factors. You must refer to your car owner’s manual for a more accurate maintenance schedule.
For more information about routine vehicle maintenance and high-quality auto repair services in Sanford and Lake Mary, FL, areas, call Welker Automotive today to schedule a consultation.
