What Does Basic Car Maintenance Include?

Keep Up with Regular Maintenance Appointments

Certain maintenance should be done by a trained mechanic to ensure it’s properly carried out. These appointments make sure parts that are wearing out are caught before they turn into bigger problems.

Oil and Filter Changes

The general rule of thumb for oil and oil filter changes is twice annually or about every 7,500-10,000 miles, whichever comes first. It’s also recommended that you get your oil filter replaced as part of an oil change service.

Over time, as you drive your car, your oil becomes dirty and those particles are filtered out by the oil filter to prevent excessive damage to the inside of the engine. Even if you do not drive your car often, your oil will degrade over time even if it does not become dirty and contaminated. When oil becomes dirty or degrades, it’s harder for your car’s engine to run properly and you’ll notice a difference in how your car runs.

Don’t Skip Tune-Ups

Most cars should get a tune-up about once annually or every 10,000-12,000 miles. If you have an electric or newer car, there may be different guidelines, so it’s best to follow what your owner’s manual says.

A tune-up service should include the installation of new spark plugs, as well as checking your car’s idle speed, timing belt, spark plug wires, and other essential belts, chains, wires, and joints. At AAMCO, our tune-up services include a 26-point ProtectCheck Inspection to make sure all critical systems are working well.

Easy At-Home Replacements

There are also several ways you can make sure your car stays in tip-top shape at home. Keeping up with checking these on a regular basis will help keep more expensive repairs at bay and are of minimal expense to you.

Top off Fluids

Keep an eye on essential fluid levels in your car. This is as simple as windshield wiper fluid so that you can safely drive your car. It also includes keeping an eye on your engine oil level, especially if the type of driving you’re doing changes, such as on a road trip when you typically drive in the city. It’s also a good idea to check your coolant level from time to time. Both the latter fluids will impact how well your car runs and if they get low, it could cause serious damage to essential parts of your car.

Easy At-Home Replacements

There are also several ways you can make sure your car stays in tip-top shape at home. Keeping up with checking these on a regular basis will help keep more expensive repairs at bay and are of minimal expense to you.

Top off Fluids

Keep an eye on essential fluid levels in your car. This is as simple as windshield wiper fluid so that you can safely drive your car. It also includes keeping an eye on your engine oil level, especially if the type of driving you’re doing changes, such as on a road trip when you typically drive in the city. It’s also a good idea to check your coolant level from time to time. Both the latter fluids will impact how well your car runs and if they get low, it could cause serious damage to essential parts of your car.

Replace Wiper Blades

Roughly twice a year, your wiper blades should be replaced. This is most often triggered seasonally or when you notice streaks on your front or rear windshield. As wipers wear out, it will be more difficult for you to see outside of your car and this can make it tricky to safely drive.

Check Your Battery

When you check your fluid levels, also take a look at your battery. While your first thought may simply be to pay attention to signs it’s wearing out, your battery can also become dirty. If there’s too much dirt or corrosion, it can cause a good battery to be less efficient or seem to lose power.