Car Maintenance: What You Need to Know

Vehicles are machines and, like any machine, they need maintenance. For most cars, regular maintenance starts at 5,000 miles and continues from there every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Of course, checking your car more regularly is even better. When it comes to car maintenance, the most important thing is to keep up with the recommended service intervals.

This means changing the oil and oil filter regularly, replacing the air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, and performing other routine maintenance tasks as needed. Oil and oil filter changes are essential for keeping your engine running smoothly. Non-synthetic oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, while synthetic oil can last between 5,000 and 10,000 miles between changes. It's also important to check the engine oil level regularly - once every two weeks and before any long road trip should be enough.

Air filters should also be changed regularly. A clogged air filter makes it difficult for the engine to breathe and that can negatively affect performance. Changing your air filter every 15,000 to 30,000 miles is a good rule of thumb; if you park or drive in a dusty environment, change the air filter closer to 15,000 miles. In addition to these basic maintenance tasks, it's also important to keep a detailed record of all maintenance performed on your vehicle.

This will help you keep track of when certain services were done and can help improve the resale value of your car. It's also important to remember that car maintenance costs can help you avoid costly repairs in the future. Taking care of your car by performing preventive maintenance helps ensure you have safe and reliable transportation. The owner's manual provides a routine automatic maintenance program based on engine mileage for most cars.

Modern cars need less maintenance than ever before, thanks to greater computerization and mechanical improvements in engine design. But do you need to pay a mechanic to service the vehicle? You can take care of a large part of the basic maintenance of your vehicle by following the tips above.