Car maintenance is a big topic, but there’s no need to be intimidated. For the most part, it’s just a matter of keeping track of your vehicle’s fluids and checking for any telltale signs that something might be wrong. And if you’re not sure what those are? This checklist will help!

How To Maintain Your Car (Most Common Car Maintenance)

Takeaways
Regular car maintenance is essential to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Winter driving can be dangerous, but there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road.
Hybrid cars offer many benefits beyond just fuel efficiency, such as tax credits and improved resale value.
Hybrid cars may seem complicated, but they’re actually quite simple once you understand the basics.
Before deciding on a hybrid car, it’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons.
Follow a comprehensive car maintenance checklist like Bridgestone’s guide to ensure you don’t miss any important tasks.

Table of Contents

Pre-Drive Check

The pre-drive check is the last thing you should do before heading out on a road trip. It’s important to make sure that everything is working properly, especially if you’re driving through unfamiliar territory.

Here’s what you need to look for:

Tire pressure—Your tires must be properly inflated so they can resist punctures from debris like broken glass or nails.

The recommended pressure varies by vehicle and tires; look it up in your owner’s manual or ask a professional like an auto mechanic for guidance.

If there’s too much air inside the tire, it can explode when exposed to heat (like when driving over 100 mph), which could be dangerous for both passengers and other drivers on the road around you!

Tire wear—Worn tires are at risk of blowing out from underneath your car while driving fast down a highway at 80 miles per hour!

This also makes them more likely to get stuck in mud puddles during rainstorms because they don’t have enough traction yet (which may mean getting stuck).

Uneven tread depth can cause uneven handling between left/right turns depending on where each tire sticks onto pavement during turning maneuvers; this can make steering more difficult than normal so always check these things before taking off down highway 93 Northbound towards Montana!

Regular car maintenance is the key to extending the lifespan of your vehicle. From changing the engine oil to replacing the air filter, there are many things you can do to keep your car running smoothly. Check out our article on The Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle in Top Condition to learn more about easy, at-home maintenance tasks that can help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

Engine Oil

Check your engine oil level. This is one of the most important things to check on your car, since it’s a major part of your engine’s lifeblood and can help prevent serious damage.

You’ll want to check this every time you fill up your gas tank, because if you don’t have enough oil in the engine, it could result in permanent damage or even an engine fire!

Here’s how: Remove the dipstick with a wrench and wipe clean before putting it back into its holder. Then pull out the dipstick again; if there’s plenty of oil on there (the “Full” mark), put it back into place—if not, add oil until there is!

Brand	Product Name	Type	Viscosity
Mobil 1	Extended Performance	Full synthetic	0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30
Royal Purple	HMX High Mileage	Synthetic blend	5W-30
Valvoline	High Mileage with MaxLife Technology	Synthetic blend	5W-20, 5W-30
Pennzoil	Platinum Full Synthetic	Full synthetic	0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30
Castrol	GTX High Mileage	Synthetic blend	5W-20, 5W-30

Note: The brands and names mentioned here are just a few examples for each type of engine oil. Always refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to determine the correct type and viscosity of oil to use.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture and loses its effectiveness over time. For this reason, you should check your brake fluid level every time you do an oil change (every 3 months or so). If the fluid is contaminated by moisture, it can cause corrosion and affect braking performance.

To check the brake fluid level:

Park the car on level ground and apply the parking brake firmly. Make sure that there are no leaks in front of or behind each wheel; if there are any leaks, fix them before checking your brake fluid levels.

Open up all doors to expose as much surface area as possible to air circulation. This will help dry up any remaining moisture in your system–but don’t wait too long!

The longer you wait after exposure to air, the more likely it is that water vapor will condense back into liquid water within your lines and pads (and then it’ll be a huge hassle to either get rid of or replace those components).

Winter driving can be treacherous, but there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road. From maintaining your tires to preparing an emergency kit, our guide on How to Stay Safe on the Road During the Winter: Expert Tips and Tricks is a must-read for anyone driving in cold weather conditions.

Coolant Levels

The coolant system is designed to keep your engine operating at a safe temperature. Without it, the engine can overheat and cause serious damage.

The mixture of water and ethylene glycol in your coolant helps to lower the temperature of the water that passes through it, keeping things running smoothly and safely.

To ensure that you have enough coolant in your car (and no more), you should check its levels weekly using a dipstick, the same one you use to check your oil level and add as needed.

Here’s how:

Use the dipstick that came with your car or another tool designed for this purpose (available at any auto parts store).

Insert it into the reservoir until it reaches the bottom; then pull out about half an inch so that there’s room for expansion when you add fluid later on in these steps…

Power Steering Fluid

Power steering fluid is a hydraulic fluid that provides the power to turn the wheels. It’s what makes it so easy to turn your wheel, and it’s also one of the most overlooked components of your car.

Power steering fluid can leak from three different places: the reservoir, pump or lines. If you notice a leak coming from any of these areas and you don’t know how long it has been there then call a mechanic right away!

You should check your power steering fluid at least once per month by pulling up on your hood, looking at the reservoir (the big black thing in front of you) and checking the color and level inside.

Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness. But did you know they offer many other benefits as well? From tax credits to improved resale value, our article on 10 Surprising Benefits of Hybrid Cars That Will Blow Your Mind details why more and more drivers are making the switch.

Transmission Fluid

We’ve saved the most important thing for last. Transmission fluid is essential to your car’s transmission and it’s not something you want to ignore.

You need to change your transmission fluid every 60,000 miles or so and even more often if you live in a particularly hot or cold climate where there’s a lot of moisture in the air.

Transmission fluid is so important because it keeps everything running smoothly inside your vehicle’s transmission system. It acts as a lubricant that helps reduce friction between moving parts, making shifting gears easier on both cars and people (phew!).

If you don’t replace old transmission fluid with fresh stuff, you’ll find yourself dealing with costly repairs down the road when damage occurs due to friction build-up caused by lack of lubrication between moving components inside your car’s engine compartment!

But changing that liquid isn’t hard at all just drain out old oil through an open pan near where they keep their drinks at all those fancy restaurants; then replace it with new fluid straight from Amazon Prime (or wherever else you buy things online). Voila! You’re done!

Brand	Product Name	Type
Mobil 1	Synthetic ATF	Fully synthetic
Amsoil	Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic ATF	Fully synthetic
Royal Purple	Max ATF High Performance Multi-Spec	Full synthetic
Red Line	D4 Automatic Transmission Fluid	Synthetic
Valvoline	MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF	Synthetic blend

Note: The brands and names mentioned here are just a few examples for each type of transmission fluid. Always refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to determine the correct type of fluid to use.

Windshield Washer Fluid

Windshield washer fluid is a vital part of the car. It’s one of the most important parts of your vehicle, and it can be very difficult to drive without it.

Windshield washer fluid helps keep you safe on the road by making sure you can see clearly during rain, snow, sleet and other types of bad weather.

To ensure that your windshield washer fluid is working properly and doesn’t freeze up in cold weather (which happens sometimes), make sure that you check its level regularly throughout the year.

When should I check my windshield wiper fluid?

You should always check your windshield wiper fluid before going on any long trips or when you’re driving in bad weather conditions where visibility may be poor such as heavy rain or snowfall because these are times when you’ll need them most!

You should also check before leaving home each day as well since there might have been some water on your windshield from overnight dew which could affect how much time passes before needing refilled again after checking levels today morning–so double-check now so later down line if at all possible!

Hybrid cars may seem complex, but they’re actually quite simple once you understand the basics. Our comprehensive guide on The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Cars: Everything You Need to Know covers everything from how hybrid cars work to the pros and cons of owning one. If you’re considering a hybrid car, this is a must-read.

Hoses & Belts

Now that you know how to check your tires, it’s time to move on to checking the belts and hoses.

These are two very important parts of your car that can be easily overlooked, but they play a big role in keeping your vehicle running smoothly.

Let’s start with the belts these are made of rubber or plastic and can be found on an engine’s cam shaft sprocket or alternator pulley.

They’re responsible for turning over (“cranking” or “spinning”) other parts like the water pump, alternator and power steering pump.

If there’s any question about whether a belt needs replacing, start by checking its condition: is it cracked?

If so, then get ready to buy some new ones! You should also check all other belts connected to it as well; if one is damaged then others may also be in poor shape too–so make sure you replace them all together rather than just one at once if needed!

Tires

Tires are an important part of your car, and it’s important to make sure they’re in good condition. You should check the tread depth, tire pressure, wear and balance regularly.

If you notice any problems with your tires during a regular maintenance check-up (every 15-30K miles), then bring it into a mechanic or have them replaced as soon as possible.

The best way to tell if your tires need replacing is by checking the tread depth—this will let you know how much time you have left before needing new ones installed on your vehicle!

You can do this with a simple penny test: insert a penny into the grooves between two treads; if all of Lincoln’s head is visible then you need new tires! If only half his head shows up though then it means that there’s still some life left in these babies so don’t worry too much yet!

Hybrid cars are gaining popularity, but are they really worth the investment? Our article on The Pros and Cons of Hybrid Cars: Is It Time to Make the Switch? explores the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid cars, from their fuel efficiency to their upfront costs. If you’re trying to determine if a hybrid car is right for you, this article is a must-read.

Lights and Signals

Light and signal inspection is a must to ensure your vehicle is running safe and proper. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends checking the following:

Headlights and high beams

Brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights
Back-up lights
Interior lighting (dome light, trunk light, etc.)

Components	Parts
Headlights	Filament, reflector, lens, housing
Taillights	Filament, reflector, lens, housing
Turn signals	Bulbs, lens, housing
Brake lights	Bulbs, lens, housing
Backup lights	Bulbs, lens, housing
Fog lights	Bulbs, reflector, lens, housing
License plate lights	Bulbs, lens, housing

Note: The parts mentioned here are just a few examples for each component. The actual parts can vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

Wipers

Change wiper blades at least every 6 months. If you’ve been using the same blade for over a year, it’s probably time to replace them—the rubber will be dry and cracked, making it difficult for your wipers to clear the windshield.

Replace your wiper blades if they start streaking. A streaky windshield is not only annoying, but can also result in poor visibility during rainstorms and snowstorms when you need to see clearly on the road ahead of you.

Replace your wiper blades if they chatter while in use or don’t move smoothly across the windshield when turned on. Wipers that chatter or don’t move across the glass smoothly are likely worn out; it’s time for new ones!

Conclusion

With this handy checklist, you’ll know exactly what to do for your next car checkup. Just remember that these are just general guidelines and not all cars are the same!

If you have any questions about how to take care of your vehicle, please consult with a professional mechanic or local dealership.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about car maintenance:

How often should I get my oil changed? It depends on your vehicle and the type of oil you use. Check your owner’s manual for recommended intervals, but typically you should plan on getting your oil changed every 5,000-7,500 miles.

How often should I rotate my tires? Most manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every 5,000-7,500 miles. This can help ensure even wear and extend the life of your tires.

What should I do if my check engine light comes on? Take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to get it diagnosed. Ignoring the check engine light could lead to more costly problems down the road.

How often should I replace my air filter? Your air filter should be replaced every 15,000-30,000 miles, or as recommended in your owner’s manual. A dirty air filter can decrease fuel efficiency and reduce engine performance.

Why is tire pressure important? Correct tire pressure can improve fuel efficiency, prolong the life of your tires, and improve handling and safety on the road. Check your tire pressure regularly and adjust as needed.