Whether you’ve owned your current vehicle for years or just drove it off the dealer lot, proper auto maintenance is a must. After all, a well-maintained vehicle will last longer, retain more of its value, and have fewer problems that could leave you stranded on the side of the road.
If maintaining your vehicle is so important, though, how should you go about doing it? Follow the maintenance checklist below to keep it running like a well-oiled machine.
Check Your Fluids
Many of your most important maintenance tasks take place under your hood. Among the most vital is checking your fluids. The fluids to check include your engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washing fluid. All these fluids are crucial for the safe and efficient operation of your vehicle, so it’s important to know just where they stand.
Since engine oil is one of the most critical fluids and often needs to be replaced or topped off, it’s important to check it at least once a month. While you’re checking the engine oil, you can check the other fluids at the same time.
To check your oil, turn your vehicle off and wait at least five minutes for the engine to cool down. In addition to cooling down, this time allows the oil to circulate back into the oil pan so you can get an accurate measurement of the volume of oil in your engine.
When the proper time has elapsed, locate the dipstick in your engine. This will usually be marked by a brightly colored handle located near the engine block. Pull out the dipstick and wipe off the end with a clean paper towel or rag. Return the dipstick to the holder and then remove it again.
When you pull out the dipstick this time, you’ll want to check the level of the oil on the dipstick. It should be in the safe area as marked on the dipstick, somewhere between the maximum line and about 1/4 of the way above the minimum line. If you notice that your oil is low, you’ll want to add some extra oil to protect your engine from damage.
All other fluids can be checked in a similar manner even though their containers may not have a dipstick. When any fluids are low, be sure to top them off to protect their respective systems. If you notice a significant drop in a certain fluid, it’s important to take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible.
Check Air Filters
Most modern vehicles come equipped with four filters: a fuel filter, an oil filter, and two air filters. While the oil and fuel filters are vital to the proper operation of your vehicle, this section focuses specifically on the air filters.
There are two types of air filters on vehicles: the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. While the engine air filter removes contaminants in the air that the engine uses for combustion, the cabin air filter removes contaminants and odors in the air that is fed to the passenger cabin.
As part of regular vehicle maintenance, it’s important that you check both air filters after every 15,000 to 30,000 miles of driving, depending on your local driving conditions. The range varies because different regions experience different amounts of airborne dust, which is a major part of what air filters are designed to catch.
Your owner’s manual should instruct you as to the location of your air filters and the procedures for removing both filters. It’s important to replace dirty air filters to enhance your fuel economy and improve the quality of the air you breathe as you drive your vehicle.
Check Your Tires
As the only point of connection between you and the road, your tires are a vital piece of equipment that must be properly maintained. Proper tire pressure helps maintain good fuel economy and keeps your tires from wearing out prematurely. Additionally, properly inflated tires provide the most traction to help you stop quickly should the need arise.
You should check your tire pressure at least once a month using a tire pressure gauge. Checking the pressure at this frequency helps to catch any slow leaks that you can’t easily spot by simply looking at the tires.
For extra peace of mind, it’s a good idea to quickly walk around your car before each trip you take. That’s because flat tires may not be immediately apparent while driving until you get up to speed on the interstate. If a tire with excessively low pressure is driven at excessively high speeds, you could have a blowout that causes you to lose control of your vehicle. Therefore, it’s better to spot a flat tire before you leave your driveway or parking spot.
The recommended air pressure for your tires can be found in your owner’s manual and on a sticker on the driver’s door panel. Use an air compressor to fill the tires, then check the pressure again using the same gauge you used to initially check the tires.
Another part of regular tire maintenance involves rotating your tires every six months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Tire rotation helps all your tires to wear evenly, ensuring you get the longest life out of your significant investment.
Check Exterior & Interior Lights
You may not give your vehicle’s lights much thought during normal driving conditions. However, when you’re driving at night or during severe weather, you want to be sure that all your lights are operating properly.
It’s a good idea to perform a full vehicle light inspection approximately every six months. Though most bulbs are designed to last far longer than that, there are often cases in which vibrations or electrical problems shorten the life of certain bulbs.
During the check, grab a friend to make checking each of the lights easier. You’ll also want to perform the check at night for the most accurate results.
Have your friend walk around outside your vehicle as you apply the brakes, turn on the turn signals, engage the hazard lights, turn on the brights, and turn on the running lights. You’ll also want to park close to a wall to ensure the light from your headlights is uniform and bright.
While you’re performing these checks, you’ll also want to check your interior lights as these can be just as important during an emergency. Test all overhead lights, glove box lights, dash lights, and any other accessory lights in your vehicle. If any bulbs on the exterior or interior are burned out, be sure to replace them with the correct type of bulb to avoid overloading the circuit.
Windshield Wipers
Another important piece of safety equipment is your set of windshield wipers. If rain, mud, snow, dust, or other substances end up on your windshield, you’ll be thankful you have reliable windshield wipers to give you a clear view.
The best way to test your wipers when it’s not raining is to activate your windshield washing feature. If you notice streaks or squeaking, it’s time to replace your windshield wipers.
The most important part of the replacement process is to select the correct size of windshield wipers. The correct size will be listed in your owner’s manual. You can also find it at your auto parts store in a large wiper size guide.
Use care when removing your old wipers to avoid damage to the wiper arms. Some vehicles use different types of mechanisms to attach the wiper blades to the wiper arms. Pay close attention to how your current wiper blades are attached so you can properly attach your new blades.
Vehicle Cleanliness
Though the common claim that a clean car drives better may have dubious supporting evidence, a clean car will help to maintain the investment your vehicle represents. Cleaning your car regularly removes contaminants that can cause rust, fading paint, and other problems.
When cleaning your vehicle, begin with the inside to allow any contaminants that are produced by your vacuum cleaner to be removed later. You’ll want to work from top to bottom for the best results. Remove all dust from the dash and other hard surfaces, using a small brush to remove dust from hard-to-reach places.
When vacuuming, make sure to use any available attachments that let you get into the crevices of your vehicle’s interior. For like-new results, you can also shampoo your carpet, making sure to leave the windows cracked to allow moisture to escape as the upholstery dries.
When cleaning the exterior, make sure that the surface of the vehicle is cool to the touch before beginning. You’ll want to use a product that’s specifically designed for washing cars to avoid stripping your vehicle of wax. Use a high-pressure spray during the main wash, then remove the spray nozzle and allow the water to sheet off the surface of the vehicle to aid in drying.
For maximum protection, applying a coat of wax after your vehicle is clean and dry is a great idea.
Maintaining your vehicle is an ongoing process that rarely requires more than a few minutes of your time. For the small amount of time and money it takes to keep your vehicle maintained, the results are well worth the effort. If you want your vehicle to take care of you, it’s a good idea to take care of your vehicle. You can start the process today by following this easy vehicle maintenance checklist.
