The Ultimate Car Maintenance Checklist

Keeping up with car maintenance might add years to the useful life of the vehicle. It can also keep you and your family safe while driving, which will save you money and protect you from having to pay for expensive repairs. To keep your automobile in good working order, you don't need to be an expert auto mechanic; all you need is a checklist of routine car maintenance and the self-discipline to check off the items on it regularly.

Short-run

Oil and Coolant

You should check the oil and coolant levels in your car while the engine is cool once a month or every few times you fill up with gas. This is especially important before long trips. If neither is checked, it can cause problems with the engine. Find out where these things are on your car by looking at the owner's manual. If you notice any sort of problem it is best to get it professionally checked by a car maintenance service

Air Filter

The air filter in your engine controls how much air goes into your engine and helps keep dirt and dust out. By making sure your air filter is working right, you can save money on gas, cut down on pollution, and help your engine last longer. This is easy to do at home.

Headlights, Turn Signals, Brake, And Parking Lights

It's important that the lights on your car work, but it's easy to forget about this. Once a month, when your car is parked in front of a flat surface, turn on both headlights and make sure they work and are in the right place. Walk around your car and check the turn signals and parking lights with your eyes. To make sure your brake lights work, have a friend stand behind the car while you apply the brakes.

Oil and Filter

The motor oil in your car's engine does a lot of things: it keeps the moving parts from getting stuck, keeps the engine cool, reduces wear and tear, and helps keep the engine from rusting. For a healthy engine, it's important to keep it clean. Depending on your car and the type of oil you use, you may need to change both the oil and the oil filter every three months or three thousand miles. Many owner's manuals for newer cars will tell you to change your oil less often, usually between 5,000 and 10,000 miles

Long Term

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid is a lubricant that keeps all the moving parts in your transmission working well. It is similar to the oil in your engine. Whether you drive a car with an automatic or manual transmission, you need to have the transmission fluid checked by a reputed car maintenance service and changed when it needs to be. If you don't, you could end up having to pay a lot to fix or replace the transmission. Follow what the car's maker tells you to do.

Check for Shakes and Struts

Your car's shocks and struts control how hard your car hits and bounces back when it goes over bumps in the road. They are also an important part of your car's steering system. They should be checked by a vehicle maintenance professional every 50,000 miles, or you should take your car to the shop if driving becomes less smooth or you lose control.

Changes in the coolant fluid

The radiator is an important part of your car that helps keep the engine cool and running well. By flushing your coolant system regularly, you can get rid of contaminants that can build up and make sure that your radiator is filled to the right level. Check with the manufacturer of your car to find out how often you should change your coolant.

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your engine light the mixture of gas and air that drives your car. If your spark plugs don't work right, your engine won't have as much power and won't run as well as it could. If your engine isn't as powerful as it used to be, you should have a professional for routine car maintenance of your spark plugs and replace any that are broken.