A new year means a new opportunity to give your car the care it deserves. Whether you treated yourself to a new car at the end of the year, or you’re hoping to extend the life of your current vehicle, regular maintenance is key to keeping your car running at its best.
Most maintenance is recommended on a 30-60-90 schedule, meaning there are items to check at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles. But there’s also maintenance that should be done more routinely.
In this article, learn how to get your car on a maintenance schedule, and what you should be checking routinely. This is general information – always consult your vehicle’s manual for specific guidance.
Some items are easy for you to check yourself if you’re comfortable doing so. Items to inspect regularly include:
Each season you should also:
Once your vehicle hits 30,000 miles – or even before – there are two big items you should have checked:
If you live in a dusty area, you’ll want your air filter checked even sooner. Some car manuals suggest checking your fuel filter around 30,000 miles too, so be sure to have that checked.
Once your car has reached 60,000 miles on the road, the list of things to check gets a little longer. You’ll want to have the following things inspected:
While some of these things you can check yourself, it’s worth taking your car into a shop for these. A lot of vehicle issues can crop up around 60,000 miles, so it’s important to have an expert check all these items to make sure your vehicle is running like it should, and to prevent future issues.
Once your car has hit 90,000 miles, it’s seen quite a bit of road. As your car ages and racks up the miles, maintenance becomes crucial to keep your car drivable for as long as possible. Items to check at 90,000 miles include:
A lot of those items noted above can actually need replacing as early as 75,000 miles – which is why the 60,000 mile check-up is so important. At 90,000 miles, be sure to take your car into the shop, but also always keep an eye out for any weird sounds, smells, or driving issues. When in doubt, take your car into the shop – it’s always better to find and fix problems sooner rather than later.
Need help finding a shop for your car’s maintenance? Use Carwise.com to search tens of thousands of shops around the country, and to read real reviews from recent customers. See qualifications, certifications and more at Carwise.com: carwise.com/auto-body-shops.
