02/09/2022
WHY YOUR ROUTINE CAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IS SO IMPORTANT
Car Maintenance
When it comes to basic automotive repairs and maintenance, most Americans are pretty clueless.
If you’re in this boat, you also probably don’t know how often you should be taking care of things like oil changes and tire pressure checks.
Luckily, we’re here to help.
Read on to learn more about the importance of a consistent car maintenance schedule. We’ll also share some basic tips so you can figure out the right schedule for your vehicle.
Why Your Car Needs Consistent Maintenance
Like anything in your life, your car needs consistent care if you want it to run efficiently.
Some of the benefits that come with keeping up a consistent car maintenance schedule include:
Save Money
It might seem like you’re spending more money and time by taking your car in for regular maintenance.
In reality, though, sticking to a car maintenance schedule helps you save money and time down the road.
For example, the cost of replacing a timing belt before it malfunctions is much lower than it will be if you wait until it fails and causes additional damage to your engine.
Things like properly inflated tires and clean filters also improve your fuel economy, which will help you save money on gas.
Save Time
If you get the timing belt replaced on schedule, your car will also be in the shop for less time than it will be if you wait until it fails altogether.
When you stick to a maintenance schedule, you also get to control when you take your car to the shop. But, if you skip these appointments, your car could end up breaking down at an inopportune time, causing you to be late for (or totally miss) an important event.
Keep Your Engine Running Smoothly
Regular maintenance like oil checks and filter changes also keep your engine running smoothly and at its full potential.
This also helps prolong your engine’s lifespan.
Keep All Systems Functioning
In addition to keeping the engine running as it’s supposed to, all other systems in your car will work better when you keep it maintained.
Simple things like changing the spark plugs and replacing the coolant will make all the difference to the way your car runs.
Safety
A safe, reliable car is a must, whether you’re going on a long road trip to just driving for a few minutes to and from the office.
Sticking to a maintenance schedule also ensures that your car is safe to drive.
If you get your car serviced when you’re supposed to, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your brakes are working and your engine is in tip-top shape.
Keep Car’s Value High
One of the first things people look for when they’re shopping for a car is its internal condition.
The better shape your car’s in, the more you’ll be able to sell it for later on.
Even if you don’t have any plans to sell your car in the near future, your situation may change in a few years. You’ll want to be prepared if you do need to sell it.
Basic Car Maintenance Schedule
It’s not enough just to worry about car maintenance in the cold winter months. Every car needs checkups throughout the year.
This is a basic car maintenance schedule that you can follow to keep your car in good condition.
Every Month
Every month, you should look at the following aspects of your car:
Make sure the check engine light is off
Clean the interior and exterior
Make sure the lights are working
Check the tire condition, specifically the inflation and tread
Check your windshield washer fluid
It should only take you a few minutes to check all these things. And, unless you notice any issues, you shouldn’t need to spend any money at all!
Every 3 Months/3,000 Miles
Every three months (or 3,000 miles), you’ll want to get a little more in-depth and check these other elements, in addition to the ones listed above:
Transmission fluid
Cables and battery
Belt condition
Engine oil and filter
Exhaust
Fuel filter
Hoses
Power steering fluid
A mechanic will probably need to handle some of these checks for you, but they’re fairly simple and won’t take a lot of time or money.
Every 6 Months/6,000 Miles
Every six months (or once every 6,000 miles), you’ll need to add the following to your inspection list:
Chassis lubrication
Engine air filter
Windshield wiper blades
It doesn’t take a lot of time to check any of these elements, but you’ll definitely appreciate the peace of mind they bring you.
Every 12 Months/12,000 Miles
Finally, you’ll want to have these elements looked at once a year (or every 12,000 miles):
Cabin air filter
Power steering fluid
Coolant (antifreeze)
Steering and suspension
This list might seem like a lot. But, remember, most of these checks take very little time and repairs, when they’re caught early, aren’t very expensive.
Extra Tips
This basic schedule is a good place to start. But, you should also keep these other maintenance tips in mind.
Keep a Vehicle Maintenance Log
A lot can happen in three months, or six, or twelve. To avoid missing an appointment and accidentally causing damage to your car, it’s important to track your vehicle maintenance.
There are mobile apps out there that make this easier. You can also write own the dates and what took place during each appointment in a simple notebook that you store in your glove compartment.
Save your receipts in the maintenance log, too. If you sell your car later, you’ll be able to show the receipts to prospective buyers to explain what kind of work has been done.
Get Specific
You should also take your specific vehicle into account when it comes to sticking to a car maintenance schedule.
For example, Toyota Tacoma repair may need to take place at slightly different intervals than maintenance for a car like a Prius.
Remember, too, that your maintenance needs will vary depending on how much you drive.
Check Your Manual
The easiest way to figure out your car’s specific maintenance needs is to check the manual.
If you can’t find your car’s manual, a quick online search should do the trick. There are many websites that have PDFs of every owner’s manual out there that you can download for free.
Taking the specific guidelines laid out by your car manufacturer will help you avoid paying for more services than you need, while still keeping your car in good shape.
Final Thoughts
Maintenance costs and schedules vary from car to car. But, there are some cars that are a lot cheaper to maintain than others.
