Vehicle maintenance is very important to your vehicle’s health and overall sustainability. The better you take care of your vehicles, the longer they last and the better they run, thus saving you money. With regular care and maintenance, your car can last you several years.

Vehicle maintenance is very easy and, once you have your routine down, takes about 30-45 minutes. I will give you a simple routine with eight easy steps that will make maintaining your vehicle a breeze. By the way, this should be done at least biweekly or monthly.

Items You Will Need Before You Check Your Vehicle
– Tire Pressure Gauge
– Rags or Paper Towels for Checking Oil
– Antifreeze/Coolant (I prefer the diluted variety, but you can use what works for you.)
– Windshield Wiper Fluid (Blue for Summer, Purple for Winter)
– Brake Fluid (Check for the right one for your vehicle)

Vehicle Maintenance List

1. Check tires. 
Check tire pressure on each tire with a tire pressure gauge. The tire pressure should be the pressure listed on your tires or the pressure recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. Properly inflated tires improve your gas mileage, saving you money at the pump. Also, check the tires for any obvious problems, like cracks or objects embedded in them. If they have something in them, you will need to get your tire fixed or replaced.

2. Open the hood of your vehicle.
Visually check the hoses for any cracks or leaks. Check the belts for any cracks or uneven wear. Check your battery for corrosion around the posts. Check the date of the car battery. If it is older than five years, consider replacing it or buying a new one to have on standby.

3. Check the level of your antifreeze/coolant.
Always keep this at the maximum level, or at least above the minimum. Ignoring this will cause serious and costly problems for your vehicle, such as the need to replace the radiator or water pump.

4. Check the engine oil level. 
Make sure your vehicle is on a level surface when you do this. Also, make certain your vehicle is cool and has not been running for at least 30-60 minutes. Hot oil will give you an inflated reading. Pull the dipstick out, clean it with a rag, reinsert it, then pull it back out. At the bottom of your dipstick should be two lines. The line at the top indicates full and the line at the bottom indicates very low. Your vehicle’s oil level should always read full. Always. If not full, add a quart. If you need to add more than one quart of oil, call your mechanic.

5. Check windshield wiper fluid. 
Add more if needed. Running out of wiper fluid will damage the wiper pump, especially if you try to run it without any fluid.

6. Check the windshield wipers.
I would not say this is a must-do, but not doing it can cause other problems. Like when your windshield is dirty, you run the wipers with fluid, and have a big mess because the wipers are cracked or worn down and not cleaning properly. Check the wipers for cracks and clear out any debris that might be in the wipers. Replace them if necessary.

7. Check your brake fluid.
Similar to checking your coolant levels. If you need more, buy the brake fluid appropriate for your vehicle and refill to the fill line.

8. Check your lights.
This is pretty simple and will prevent you from being pulled over. Turn on your hazard lights and check if they are working. Turn on your headlights and check. Press the brake pedal and have someone confirm that those lights are working. Check your turn signal lights. Replace the ones that are not working.

In addition to regular maintenance, you should get oil changes every 3000-5000 miles or every 6 months, depending on your vehicle. You should be checking your cabin and engine air filters every 6-12 months. You also should be rotating your tires every 5000-8000 miles, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. I let my regular mechanics take care of these things, but I keep in mind that they need to be done.

Pretty easy, eh? This vehicle maintenance will help you stay on top of any issues that might pop up and keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Thanks for reading,
Erica

Sharing is caring!