Keeping your car in good shape is a great way to make sure that it lasts as long as possible, but it’s also good for safety reasons.

That’s why I recommend that every driver put together his or her own personal car maintenance checklist. So if you want to know what should be included on yours, keep reading!

10 Most Essential Car Maintenance Tasks for Every Driver

Takeaways
Regular car maintenance can help prolong the life of your vehicle and save you money on costly repairs.
Checking your engine oil, tire pressure, and brakes is essential for keeping your car running smoothly and safely.
Winter maintenance tasks such as using snow tires and checking your antifreeze can help reduce the risk of car problems during cold weather.
Identifying and fixing common car problems yourself can save you time and money.
Following a regular car maintenance schedule is crucial for keeping your car in good condition and avoiding expensive repairs.

1. Check The Oil

This step is important, as it ensures that your engine has enough oil to run smoothly. If you don’t check the oil regularly and allow it to become too low in your vehicle, this could cause serious damage to various parts of your vehicle.

You should always check the oil level before every oil change (every 3 months or 3,000 miles) and after every long trip.

If you notice any changes in engine performance on a regular basis (e.g., when driving at high speeds or driving through hills), then you should also check your car’s fluids more frequently to ensure all systems are functioning properly.

It’s important to give your car the attention it needs to keep it running smoothly. As we mentioned in our The Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Running Smoothly guide, regularly checking your engine oil, tire pressure, and brakes can help prolong the life of your car and save you money on costly repairs in the future.

2. Check and Replace Your Air Filter

An air filter is a crucial part of your car’s engine that helps it run smoothly by keeping dirt out of its internal parts. If you see that there is dirt or debris on the filter, replace it immediately.

You should also check if there are any tears in the existing air filter (if you have one). We recommend replacing your air filter every 12,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first. It’s important to keep an eye on this part as well since failing to do so can lead to costly repairs later on down the line!

In addition to checking for major damage like tears and rips (which indicate a damaged filter), you should take a look at how clean your current vehicle’s interior appears overall this can give insight into whether or not it needs cleaning regularly enough or if another kind of dust buildup has occurred within recent months/years before needing replacement altogether.”

Recommended Air Filter Maintenance Schedule

Signs that your air filter needs replacement	Time frames/Miles	Recommended brands
Dirty air filter	Every 12,000-15,000 miles	K&N, AEM, Fram
Decreased acceleration or power	Every 30,000 miles	Spectre, Bosch, Mann-Filter
Increased engine noise or idling	Every 30,000 miles	WIX Filters, AC Delco, Mahle
Visible dirt or debris on the filter	Every 12,000-15,000 miles	Purolator, Baldwin Filters, Hastings
The Check Engine Light is on	Every 45,000-60,000 miles	OEM, Motorcraft, Denso

Note: It is important to check your air filter regularly as a dirty air filter can reduce your car’s performance and fuel efficiency. The frequency of air filter replacement may vary depending on the car make and model, driving conditions, and climate.

3. Replace Wiper Blades When Needed

Wiper blades should be replaced when the rubber begins to crack, or if you notice that your wipers are streaking and leaving streaks on the windshield.

If your wiper blades are in bad condition, they won’t clear the windshield properly and may even damage it not to mention leaving you driving blind in a downpour.

To find out if your wiper blades need replacing, simply look at them through the window while they are running (don’t put yourself in danger by getting out of the car).

If you see even one tire with cracks or tears through its rubber casing, it’s time to get new ones! You can usually buy inexpensive replacement wiper blades at any auto parts store—or sometimes even gas stations so there’s no excuse not to keep these essential tools working properly.

No amount of caution can guarantee your total safety while driving, but taking precautions and maintaining your car properly can help reduce your risk of an accident. For example, regularly checking your headlights and brakes is one of the Top 15 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Safe on the Road that we discuss in our guide.

4. Check Tire Pressure and Rotate Tires

Check Tire Pressure and Rotate Tires. To keep your car healthy, you need to regularly check the tire pressure of all four tires. It’s best to do this when they are completely cold so late at night or in the morning after sitting overnight with no use.

The reason is that heat causes air to expand, which can cause a drop in pressure as much as 1 pound per square inch (psi) for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit increase in temperature.

So you want to check your tires when they’re cool and ideally before it gets too hot outside so you get an accurate reading that won’t be affected by heat expansion.

In addition, make sure you’re using an accurate gauge when checking tire pressure; otherwise, your numbers may not be accurate and could lead to premature wear on your tires (and other problems). And finally: don’t forget about rotating your tires!

This should happen every 7,500 miles or so; if you don’t know how often yours need rotated yet or what kind of rotation schedule is best for your particular type of driving situation (city driving versus highway driving), talk with a mechanic or ask around amongst other auto enthusiasts who have experience rotating their own vehicles’ wheels regularly

5. Change Your Fuel Filter

It’s important to change your fuel filter every 30,000 miles or so. If you don’t drive much, you should still change it at least once a year.

Changing the fuel filter is relatively easy and can be done in your driveway with basic hand tools. The fuel filter sits on top of the gas tank and is usually accessible from under the car, just behind the driver’s side rear tire.

If you run out of gas while driving, don’t panic—just coast to a stop (or pull over), put on your hazard lights if possible and call roadside assistance for help!

Owning a car means having a long-term responsibility to keep it in good shape. Our Essential Car Maintenance Checklist for Long-Term Ownership guide outlines some of the most important routine maintenance tasks you need to perform, such as changing your oil and checking your transmission fluid, to keep your car running smoothly for years to come.

6. Change Your Car Battery

The final thing you should do during your vehicle maintenance checklist is to change your car battery. It may be that you haven’t even thought about it, but batteries can lose their effectiveness in as little as three years.

This can be dangerous for two reasons: First, a weak or dead battery won’t allow your vehicle to start; second, a dying battery may cause an electrical fire that damages your car and/or surrounding property.

If you don’t know how old the current one is, check the owner’s manual for recommended replacement intervals. Be sure to remove any items from inside the trunk before disconnecting any cables (e.g., cargo nets).

Finally, make sure that any other electronics connected with this process (like anti-theft devices) are properly coded back into place after installation!

Recommended Car Battery Replacement Schedule

Signs that you need a new battery	Time frames	Recommended brands
Age (3-5 years)	Between 3-5 years	DieHard, Duralast, ACDelco
Slow engine crank	Every 4-5 years	Odyssey, Optima, Exide
Check engine light	Every 4-5 years	NAPA, Interstate Batteries, Bosch
Battery leakage or swelling	Between 3-5 years	AC Delco, East Penn Manufacturing, Crown Battery
Low battery fluid level	Every 4-5 years	Yuasa, Duracell, EverStart

Note: Battery life varies depending on the type of battery, driving conditions, and climate. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific battery.

7. Check All Fluid Levels and Top Them Off If Necessary

Check all fluid levels and top them off if necessary.

You should check the oil level every time you fill up at a gas station, but it’s also good practice to check other fluids as well.

Engine oil – look for a sticker on the engine or consult your owner’s manual for the correct level. If it looks low, add some more from an approved source before driving any further; otherwise, you risk damaging your engine.

Brake fluid – this is important because low brake fluid can cause an accident or even start a fire; check for a sticker under your hood or consult your owner’s manual for the correct level. Add more if needed (again using approved sources) and remember to empty out any old fluid that has leaked out of your master cylinder so that none gets into the brake lines when you put in fresh stuff!

Transmission fluid – again, consult an owner’s manual or look on the dipstick itself; most transmissions use automatic transmission fluid made specifically by brands like Honda/Acura/Toyota/Lexus/Nissan etc., so make sure yours isn’t one of those unless they manufacture their own brand-name stuff (in which case disregard this step!).

Also make sure not to overfill since doing so could cause damage later down line—it’s better just be safe than sorry here!

8. Give Your Car a Tune-up Every 30,000 Miles or So

The next thing you should do is give your car a tune-up. A tune-up is an essential part of car maintenance that involves checking and replacing all of your vehicle’s mechanical parts, including the spark plugs, air filters, distributor cap and rotor button (which controls spark timing), fuel filter and other items. Most vehicles need to have a tune-up every 30,000 miles or so (or once a year).

The reason why you should get this done on a regular basis is because it ensures that your engine runs optimally at all times.

With proper maintenance from regular visits to our mechanic shop, you can avoid expensive repairs down the line due to poor performance caused by simple problems that could have been fixed with just one visit in between scheduled service appointments.

Recommended Tune-up Schedule

Components to check	Time frames/ Miles	Brands to consider
Spark plugs	Every 30,000-60,000 miles	NGK, Denso, Bosch
Air filters	Every 30,000 miles	K&N, Fram, Mann-Filter
Fuel filters	Every 30,000 miles	ACDelco, Motorcraft, Hastings
Ignition timing and idle speed	Every 30,000-60,000 miles	Delphi, Standard Motor Products, Jet Performance Products
PCV valve	Every 30,000-60,000 miles	ACDelco, Bosch, Standard Motor Products
Belts and hoses	Every 60,000 miles	Gates, Dayco, Continental
Battery	Every 3-5 years	Optima, Duralast, DieHard
Transmission fluid	Every 60,000 miles	Valvoline, Pennzoil, Mobil 1

Note: Always refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations regarding tune-up schedules.

9. Check the Condition of Brake Pads, Brake Lines, and Brake Fluid

Brake pads. Brake pads are an essential part of your vehicle’s braking system, they wear out over time and need to be replaced when they become too thin or worn down. Check the condition of your brake pads by removing them from the caliper and looking for cracks, rusting, or other signs that would indicate they are in bad shape.

Brake lines. The brake lines on your car carry fluid from the master cylinder to each wheel cylinder so you can stop driving safely if there is something wrong with it which means it’s important to keep checking them regularly as well as replacing any parts that may have been damaged by corrosion or wear-and-tear over time like seals or gaskets etcetera so make sure you look into this during this step too!

Brake fluid levels: This is easy enough – just check that there isn’t too much or not enough left inside before moving on but if it does appear low then fill up with some more using a funnel followed by replacing cap tightly afterwards once done so now we’re done here next up will be air pressure/tire tread check…

Winter conditions can be tough on your car, but there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of running into problems on the road. Our Top 15 Car Maintenance Tips for Winter Driving guide covers some basic but effective winter maintenance tips such as using snow tires, topping up your antifreeze, and keeping an emergency kit on hand.

10. Get Rid of Any Dents or Dings in Your Car’s Bodywork

If you’ve got a dent or ding in your car, now is the time to get it fixed. Dent and ding repairs can be costly, so if you don’t have the money right away, make sure that you keep an eye on the problem. If it grows worse over time, it will become harder (and more expensive) to repair.

There are several ways to fix dents and dings yourself:

You can use body putty to fill the gap by hand; then sand the area down until smooth with 200-grit sandpaper before painting over it with primer and paint of your choice

Use a heat gun or hair dryer on low heat as needed to shrink up any plastic bumper cover enough so that it doesn’t rub against your car’s bodywork when closed

Car problems can be a major headache, but being able to identify and fix issues yourself can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Our Most Common Car Problems and How to Fix Them guide explains some of the most common car problems you may encounter, such as a dead battery or faulty alternator, as well as some simple solutions you can try at home before calling in a mechanic.

Conclusion

Car maintenance is one of the most important things you can do for your vehicle. It’s an investment in your safety and comfort, and it also helps you save money by keeping the car running smoothly.

The best part about this checklist is that it’s easy to follow with just a few minutes of work each week or so. You don’t need any special tools or training—just some basic knowledge about how cars work!

FAQs

What are some basic car maintenance tasks I should perform regularly?

Some basic car maintenance tasks you should perform regularly include checking and topping up fluids like engine oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid, inspecting your tires for wear and proper inflation, checking and replacing filters (air, oil, fuel), and regularly cleaning the exterior and interior of your car.

How frequently should I change my car’s oil?

Most car manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. You can check your car’s owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation for your specific vehicle.

How often should I check my brakes?

It’s recommended that you check your brakes at least every six months, or every 10,000-15,000 miles, to ensure that they’re functioning correctly. Signs that it’s time to have your brakes checked include noisy brakes, reduced responsiveness, and unusual vibrations or pulsations in the brake pedal.

When should I replace my car’s tires?

It’s generally recommended to replace your car’s tires every 6 years, regardless of mileage, as tires can deteriorate over time due to heat, light, and weather exposure. However, be sure to check your tires regularly for signs of wear or damage, and replace them earlier if needed.

Why is it important to follow a car maintenance schedule?

Following a regular car maintenance schedule is important to ensure that your car stays in good condition and runs efficiently. It can also help you avoid costly repairs and breakdowns by catching potential issues early on and addressing them before they become more serious problems.