Scheduling Your Vehicle Maintenance
Your vehicle is an important part of your life. It gets you to and from work, school, and helps you get your errands done. But did you know that it needs maintenance and upkeep too, like your HVAC system or your lawn and garden? Vehicle maintenance is necessary to keep your car running and to extend its lifespan.
What is the most important maintenance for a car?
Any part of basic vehicle maintenance is important. Fortunately, some of these maintenance tasks can be done by you in your garage. But some maintenance tasks should be done by a professional mechanic. A vehicle maintenance checklist should include:
Taking Care of the Tires
The tires are essential to your safety and for better handling on the road. Tires in poor condition can be dangerous for you and your passengers. Things in your tires that should be maintained include:
- Tire pressure
- Tire rotation
- Tire condition
- Uneven wear
- Spare tire
Checking and Changing Fluids
The following fluids should be checked and/or changed by a professional every 5,000 miles and checked for a refill about once a week:
- Motor oil
- Brake fluid
- Antifreeze or coolant
- Transmission
- Power Steering
- Washer fluids
Checking the Battery
Having a dead battery when you need to get to work is not fun. Part of routine vehicle maintenance should include checking the battery to make sure it is in proper working order. This includes checking to be certain the cables are clean and firmly connected. A mechanic can check the amount of power output the battery has stored.
Checking the Lights
One easy vehicle maintenance task you can easily do on your own is checking the exterior and interior lights. Make sure that all headlights, brake lights, blinker lights, and fog lights are in working order. Get a new light immediately if you notice a problem.
The Annual Inspection
Most states require an annual inspection, making it one of the most important parts of your vehicle maintenance. This allows a trained mechanic to check that all components are in working condition. This can be a good time to get the spark plugs changed, radiator flushed, the timing belt checked, and the fuel filter changed.
What needs to be changed when servicing a car?
In a proper vehicle maintenance program, the first thing that should be changed is the motor oil following the car manufacturer’s recommendations. Other basic fluid changes during routine vehicle maintenance include the following:
- Brake fluid
- Engine coolant
- Power steering fluid
Checking the radiator for anti-freeze concentration is also crucial in keeping a car well-maintained.
What is vehicle maintenance and repair?
The difference between vehicle maintenance vs repair is that vehicle maintenance will keep you from needing vehicle repair! By having the fluids checked, changed, or added, along with taking care of tasks such as checking the tires and the different filters in a car, you can avoid most vehicle repair needs.
If you have kept up with maintenance, vehicle repair is typically only needed when there is mechanical trouble, like the engine overheating or if you’ve noticed a knocking sound in the engine. With routine vehicle maintenance, those things are far less likely to happen.
How long can you go without servicing your car?
This can vary between different cars and how well they are built. Your driving habits and styles will also make a difference in how long a car will last, with or without vehicle maintenance. Most engines can tolerate skipping vehicle maintenance for up to 5,000 miles on average.
Does vehicle maintenance save you money?
Absolutely! With routinely scheduled vehicle maintenance, the engine will run better. ith By having the oil changed, your gas mileage will improve. With the right air pressure and a new air filter, you could see far greater fuel efficiency.
Can you service your car yourself?
A DIY car owner that is handy with automotive equipment and tools can do most of their own vehicle maintenance. Many “shade tree” mechanics prefer to do their own. If you own a brand new car, you’ll need to keep receipts of when you take care of tasks like the oil change and other basic vehicle maintenance jobs for warranty purposes.
In Closing – Do electric vehicles require less maintenance?
While electric vehicles still need maintenance, they typically don’t need it as frequently. Parts that will need vehicle maintenance include the battery, motor, and other associated electronics, though they still do not require the amount of regular maintenance that conventional vehicles require.
Because there are fewer moving parts, there is less to wear out, but there are still fluids, like motor oil, that need to be checked and changed – again, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.