By this time of the year, or near any holiday or vacation, most people rush to take their vehicles to the workshop. They want to have their cars ready to use with no troubles, to keep them reliable, but some discover that they have a lot of accumulated problems that need to be solved at once. The goal of this article is to give you an insight into preventive maintenance and to show how, if you take care of certain things, your vehicle will be more reliable.
Why are we talking about “preventive maintenance” and not just “maintenance”?
Preventing maintenance is done based on a schedule and a routine, and it includes check-ups and part changes before a failure, while maintenance is done after a problem occurs and repairs have to be made to fix it.
Below is a “to do” list and a checklist to have your car always in optimal conditions; there are two kinds of intervals, fixed by time and by mileage.
1. Check your fluids levels (Once a month or before a long trip)
It is always a good practice to check your fluid levels at least once a month. The most important and easy to check levels are oil and engine coolant. The best way to measure your vehicle’s levels is by doing it when the engine is still cold, before starting it up for the first time on the day. Coolant levels shouldn’t go down; if you have to add coolant or distilled water frequently, take your car to the shop to have it checked.
It’s also a good practice to check for any leakages when you perform this inspection.
Oil levels, on the other hand, may drop. Engines burn some oil even under normal functioning conditions. Check your vehicle’s owner manual to see what the normal oil consumption of your car is. Also check on the manual or on your last oil service ticket what kind of oil you should add, in case it’s needed.
2. Oil and filter change (between 3000 and 10000 miles or a year, what comes first) *
Changing your oil and oil filter in time is essential to keep your vehicle’s engine in optimal conditions, and it helps to keep it clean and working at its best.
If your car uses synthetic oil, the oil and filter intervals are going to be longer than if it uses mineral or semi-synthetic oil. Check your car’s owner’s manual to see your vehicle’s oil change intervals.
*6 months in case of mineral oil.
3. Air Filter and Cabin Filter (with every oil and filter change or at least once a year)
Having a clean air filter helps your engine to literally breathe better. It will help to reduce fuel consumption, and it will help you to have a healthy engine.
Changing the vehicle’s cabin air filter is something that is pretty neglected. The cabin air filter cleans the air that you breathe when you are using your heater or your air conditioner. It protects you from dust, pollen, and other particles that can be harmful to your health.
Besides, a clean air filter will help your vehicle’s air conditioning system to run more efficiently.
Fuel filter change
4. Tires inspection and caring (at least once a month)
Keeping your vehicle’s tires inflated with the proper pressure helps to reduce wear and to get good gas mileage. When you check for your tires’ pressure, you can also check for cracks or damage symptoms; this will help you keep track of your tires’ status and to prevent accidents or have a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.
5. Wheels rotation, balance, and alignment (Every 6 months or 6000 to 8000 miles)
Every vehicle’s tires wear down over time, but they frequently wear unevenly.
Rotating your tires will help your tires to wear more evenly, and it will prevent you from having to replace a tire before time.
When you have your tires rotated, it’s important to do wheel balancing and alignment. This will avoid vibrations and excessive noise, and the wheel alignment will ensure that your tires are parallel to each other and the alignment values are between the parameters specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer. This will improve ride comfort and fuel efficiency.
6. Brakes Checking (Once a month or before a long trip)
When you are checking your tires’ pressure, you can also check for your brake pads. It may seem a difficult task, but you will notice if they are too thin. Most modern vehicles come with an “idiot light” to tell the driver that the pads are worn out. However, if you wait to see that light, it may be too late. Some brake pad sensors are too close to the back of the pad, and when they trigger the dashboard light, they may be scratching your discs; so you are going to spend more money to service your brakes, having to also replace the brake discs.
Listen for any strange noise while barking and pay attention to any vibration coming from the brake pedal. If you don’t feel that your brakes are behaving like they always do, take your car to the shop ASAP.
7. Brake pads change (Every 30K miles approximately)
Brake pads replacement intervals vary according to the vehicle you are driving and to your driving habits. They should generally change at every 30K miles, but it’s better to check your vehicle’s service book to see when the manufacturer advice to have them replaced.
8. Replace Spark Plugs (Every 30K miles approximately)
Spark plugs wear out. When they are too old, the electrode’s gap will be so big that the combustion won’t be optimal, making your engine to lose power and to stagger.
A sizeable gap in the spark-plugs makes the coils work harder, which can prove harmful for them, and they can damage prematurely. Replacing the spark plugs is a cheap job and, done in time, it will save you money on major repairs.
9. Have your transmission fluid and filter changed (From 30K to 50K miles)
Get your transmission fluid (and filter if it’s required) changed at your vehicle’s manufacturer-recommended intervals. This is very important, mostly if you own a car with an automatic gearbox. ATs repairs are very expensive, and we can prevent most of the damages with just good care.
10. Several things to keep in mind
You need to be aware of your engine’s timing belt, serpentine belt, and water pump replacing intervals. This will help you to avoid major breakdowns and expensive repairing costs.
If you hear strange noises, clanking noises or you notice that the ride quality of your vehicle deteriorates, take your car to the shop to have your suspension checked. You may have from a simple bushing broken to a damaged strut.
Check your vehicle’s lights. They are easy to check and replace. A simple walk around your car with your lights on will help you notice if you need to replace any light bulb
Conclusion
These are some things you have to keep in mind to have your vehicle always at its best running conditions. It may seem a lot, but you will get used to it and you will eventually see that it’s not that much. Taking care of these tasks on time will give you peace of mind, and it’s going to help you know your ride better. You are not only going to be saving money on unnecessary repairs, but you are also going to avoid bad mechanic advice. And in the future, if you decide to sell your car you can get a good price and can sell it fast as it’s well maintained.
After all, a car is an investment, and no one better than you to take care of your property.
Punit