How Often Should You Maintenance Your Car?

Your car is a huge investment, so it’s important that you follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to make sure everything stays in great shape. It can be difficult to determine how often you should be taking your vehicle in for servicing, especially when the vehicle is not paid off yet. Find out more about why it’s vital that you maintain your car according to its manual on this article.

When it comes to your car, there are a few things you should do on a regular basis in order to keep it running smoothly. Some of these tasks may seem like small details, but if you don’t take care of them, they can lead to bigger problems down the line.

Here are some maintenance tips that you should keep in mind:

1. Keep your air filters clean – This is one task that many people forget about, but it’s important. Over time, dirt and dust can build up inside the filters and block air flow. This can cause your car to run poorly or even give off an unpleasant smell. You should replace your air filters every 6 months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.

2. Change your oil every 3,000 miles – Contrary to what many people believe, changing your engine oil isn’t just for the sake of protection. Over time, oil can become contaminated with dirt, metal particles, and other chemicals. This will damage your engine and reduce its performance. Oil needs to be replaced every 3,000 miles or at the manufacturer’s specified time period whichever comes first.

3. Check your brakes regularly – Brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. As they age, they can become less effective and eventually stop working altogether due to a variety of problems. One of the easiest ways to make sure that your brakes are in good shape is to regularly check them. This is best done on an annual basis or even better, every few days while driving on the highway.

4. Change your transmission fluid annually or at 3,000 miles whichever comes first – Transmissions wear out over time and will start turning very hard when they get close to needing replacement. You can prevent that from happening by having your transmission fluid changed every single year or every 3,000 miles whichever comes first.

5. Change your oil annually at 5,000 miles or at an even earlier point if you are driving on the highway a lot – Oil is one of the most important parts of your car’s engine and once it begins to break down it can make for some very unpleasant experiences in the car’s performance and operating conditions. Letting it go too long and letting it go at all can lead to a lot of damage and is not something that you should want to take the chance on.

6. Change your air filter every 30,000 miles or sooner if it begins to show signs of wearing out – Air filters work hard in keeping out dirt and debris that could be getting into your engine which would certainly make for some very unpleasant experiences when it came time to get your car serviced. If you have a good set-up at home a good air filter is one of the best things you could do to keep your vehicle running as well.

7. Think about upgrading your tires every 15,000 miles or sooner if they begin to show signs of wear and tear – Your car’s tires are a big part of the suspension system and work hard in being able to keep your car in control when you’re driving it on different surfaces for long distances at times. If you ever notice that your tires are beginning to look a little worn out then you should go ahead and replace them sooner rather than later. It’s always a good idea to have corrective action taken in this particular manner when you notice your tires begin to look worn. Another really good reason to think about changing your tires is because of the fact that it also improves your fuel efficiency over time as well.

8. Switch out your brake pads every three or four years so that you’re able to get the most out of their warranty period – Brakes can be one of those components on your vehicle that actually deteriorate rather quickly. If you want to make sure you still have a brake system on your vehicle throughout its entire life, then it’s best to switch out your pads every so often.

9. It is also very important to maintain your Air Conditioner when running it – The most frequent repair you should do is changing the air filter and checking for any leaks as needed. You can also buy a cheap car air conditioner for around $20 at any auto parts store and get a quote for a full tune-up of the system. Keep in mind that not all car AC’s are the same and some have more parts than others. If you can find an air conditioner with less pieces, it will cost less to run and is better for your wallet.

What is the Cost of Having Maintenance Services Performed on Your Car?

Typically, the cost of having maintenance services performed on your car is based on the age and make of your vehicle. For example, a 2002 Honda Accord with 75,000 miles will typically cost more to have maintenance services performed than a 2010 Honda Accord with only 15,000 miles. The price of maintenance also depends on the location of the service center and whether or not you are covered by a warranty. If you are not sure what repairs need to be made on your car, it is best to schedule a repair appointment with your mechanic. The cost of having maintenance services performed varies from year to year and can change at any time. On average, the cost of performing routine maintenance on a car is around $80 per hour. This amount will vary depending on the time of the year and whether or not you have a warranty. Depending on the type of car you own, the repairs needed can range anywhere from $20 to hundreds of dollars.

Conclusion

In the end, it really comes down to personal preference as to when you should perform a car maintenance task. However, the general rule of thumb is that you should do a service and inspection every 12,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes first.