Your Car’s General Maintenance: Everything Your Car Needs and When
No one, absolutely no one, wants to deal with an expensive car repair, so we at Auto Repair Pros are going to let you in on a little secret: the best way to avoid those expensive repairs — alongside safe driving, of course — is staying on top of your car’s general maintenance. Yep, that’s it. But that does entail a little more than just swapping out your oil every once in a while. So we’re going to run you through what auto maintenance can entail, and why it’s important.
What is General Car Maintenance?
Car maintenance is regular checks, replacements, and top-offs that keep your car running the way it is supposed to while giving you a chance to spot any issues or damage before they become a problem. By staying on top of your scheduled auto maintenance, systems don’t run too dry, parts don’t wear too thin, and filters don’t clog without being noticed.
It’s important to stay on your maintenance schedule, not just for your own safety — which we would say is rather important — but also to improve the performance of your vehicle and increase its lifespan. Too much overwork from strained systems can wear down your car, drag down efficiency, and lead to damage. So it’s important not to skip on your maintenance services and checks. Be nice to your car, and it will be nice to you.
The best way to know exactly what your vehicle needs is to check your owner’s manual. If you don’t still have yours, or never received it to begin with, most can be found online by searching your car’s make, model, year, and the term ‘owner’s manual.’ If you are still having trouble finding the information you need, you can reach out to your local auto care technician (we’re happy to help!) or even the local dealer for your make with questions. The manual — or technician — will have the important details: your maintenance schedule, your ideal tire pressure, what type of gasoline and oil you should use, etc. Keep these in mind when you schedule your oil change or top off your tires.
What Maintenance Services Do I Need and When?
Some maintenance services need to occur more frequently than others, and can usually be determined by the mileage driven. Of course, we are using large approximations in this explanation, so refer to your manual or technician for a schedule more specific to your vehicle.
Regular Maintenance - Every 5,000 to 10,000 Miles
Some maintenance tasks need to be performed frequently. In new cars, this can mean as often as every 3,000 miles for the first couple of years. After that, this span extends to every 5-10,000 miles, depending on your driving conditions. These include:
Oil filter and oil changes
Tire inspections and rotations
Fluid top-offs:
Coolant
Power steering fluid
Brake fluid
Windshield wiper fluid
Air filter replacements - cabin and engine
Brake pad replacement and brake system inspections
Less Frequent Maintenance - Every 30,000 to 90,000 Miles
Some maintenance services only need to occur every 30-, 60-, or even 90,000 miles, though they are no less important. These replace parts that can handle much more wear and tear, while the more frequent maintenance happens in the meantime. These include:
Inspecting the fuel system and replacing the fuel filter
Replacing park plugs
Inspect belts and hoses for damage
Inspect and cleaning battery terminals
Inspecting all mechanical systems for wear or damage
Seasonal Maintenance
Some maintenance should be performed seasonally, though this is less relevant in Florida where our seasons are near negligible. If you take your car somewhere with cold weather and snow for the winter, consider swapping out your tires for snow tires and double-check your anti-freeze levels to be sure your car is prepared.
Home Maintenance
While Auto Repair Pros is happy to handle your maintenance services, it can’t hurt to know how to do a couple at home. You can easily do a monthly check of your vehicle’s light system, for example, so you don’t have to wait between oil changes. Just park on a flat surface, turn on your headlights, step out, and walk around the car. You should be able to see your headlights and parking lights. Now, get back in, and have someone stand where they can see as you press on your brakes and test your blinkers. If everything works, you’re good to go. If not, you know to get new bulbs.
It’s also a good idea to keep a tire pressure gauge in your car, and test your tires regularly — manufacturers advise monthly. Many new cars have sensors to tell you your tire pressure, but double checking never hurts, and lets you know if your sensors are off. You can also check your tire tread with the penny test.
ARP Maintenance Services
Having a few checks to do at home is a good idea, but we’re happy to handle the rest for you. And we’ll even knock out a bunch of them in one go to keep things simple for you. Our Auto Repair Pro oil change service not only changes your oil and oil filter — using OE/OEM parts — but also includes a complimentary preventative maintenance analysis, which includes:
Brake system check
Tire check
Steering components check
Scanning the code in the vehicle’s internal computer
Checking for leaks
Once we’ve finished, we will place a sticker in your windshield with a recommended date or mileage for your next service and a QR code to scan that will let you book your next oil change.
If you have any questions about your vehicle’s maintenance, or are just ready to schedule an appointment, reach out to one of our seven Florida locations.
