Additional Maintenance Tips for Your Vehicle
In our Maintenance Tips for Your Vehicle page, we offered some short-term and long-term maintenance tips to keep your car at its best. Along with those suggestions, we recommend the following maintenance tasks the next time you change your oil.
Generally speaking, you should change your oil every 7,500 miles or every six months, whichever comes first. Check your owner's manual for the specific miles and months recommended for your car. When that time comes, consider making these additional inspections as well:
Check Your Air Filter. Follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommended service intervals but also do a visual check. If you can hold the filter up without seeing any light coming through, it's time to replace it, regardless of the recommended interval.
Check Your Fluids. Many manufacturers seal the automatic transmission on new cars. However, if you can access it, check the transmission dipstick when your car's engine is warmed up and running. Also, be sure to check your power-steering fluid and your brake fluid. Low brake fluid can be a sign of a leak, so refill the fluid and have the system inspected. For all your fluid maintenance, refer to your owner's manual for the specifics related to your car.
Clean Your Radiator. Doing so helps prevent your car from overheating. You can remove debris using a soft brush, and you can clean the outside of your radiator using a detergent solution.
Check Your Battery. Make sure your battery's terminals and cables are securely attached. Also, make sure there is no corrosion on your battery terminals. If you notice any buildup, you can clean this off using a soft brush and a mixture of baking soda and water. If you have a battery with removable caps, check your battery's fluid level every few months, especially if you live in a warmer climate.
Check Your Constant-Velocity-Joint (CV) Boots. CV boots are found on the drive axles of front-wheel drive and some four-wheel-drive vehicles. Examine them for any cuts, cracks, or leaks. If a CV boot is suffering from any of these, replace it immediately. If a CV joint becomes contaminated with dirt, it can lead to an expensive repair.
Inspect Your Exhaust System. This will require getting under your car. Check for any exhaust parts that are rusted through and in need of replacement, and also tighten any loose clamps. If you take your car to a shop for oil changes, you can have them do all this work for you.
On a daily basis, listen for any changes in the exhaust sound while you are driving. If the exhaust system starts to break down, it's usually a better idea to replace the entire system all at once instead of repairing different sections at different times.
Check Your Brakes. As a general rule of thumb, it's a good idea to inspect your brakes at least twice a year, more often than that if you drive a lot of miles. Be aware that most drivers seek professional help when addressing their break systems. However, if you choose to handle the work on your own, you'll need to remove all your wheels to examine the system clearly. Unless you can elevate your car, it's best to remove one tire at a time. If you have any excessively worn brake pads or linings, you'll need to replace them. Also, if you have any badly scored rotors or drums, you need to have them replaced as well.