Regular Vehicle Service: Everything You Need To Know
Keeping your vehicle maintained is essential for the longevity of your car and helps to keep you safe on the roads. While you may do the occasional tire check or oil change, many car owners may be missing crucial regular maintenance steps that could impact your car’s performance.
To help, we’ve made a list of all the regular vehicle service steps you or your mechanic should be performing on a regular basis:
1. Check your air filters
If your cabin air filter is dirty, it can cause problems with your air conditioner or make the air in your vehicle less healthy to breathe. A dirty engine air filter can cause poor fuel mileage, poor engine performance or in extreme cases, engine damage can result. To avoid these types of problems, have your air filters changed every 12 months or every 20,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.
2. Have fluids inspected
Keeping fluid at the right levels and ensuring that your vehicle has clean fluids is important for proper operation. Have your oil, transmission fluid and power steering fluid checked regularly, or do it yourself every month or so.
3. Check your tire pressure
You don’t have to take your vehicle to a mechanic to check the tire pressure, and it’s an easy car maintenance to-do that you can DIY. Most gas stations have tire pressure gauges, which you should use to check all four of your tires. Do this once a month and ensure that the pressure reading is ideal for your particular tires — this information can typically be found on the inside of your driver’s side door.
4. Check your battery
Neglecting your battery is one of the worst things you can do for your car, because a dead battery can leave you stranded in the most inconvenient situation. Be sure to pay attention to the battery indicator on your car’s dashboard, and ask your mechanic to do a battery check twice a year.
5. Replace your spark plugs
The spark plugs in your car help to keep the engine running smoothly, but over time, the spark plugs can become clogged with dirt or oil. You should have your spark plugs replaced about every 95,000 kilometres or so, but be sure to check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation.
6. Rotate your tires
Tires don’t wear evenly, so rotating your tires regularly is a good idea to help prevent premature wear. Try to get your tires rotated once every 13,000 kilometres.
7. Replace your windshield wipers
Windshield wipers are designed to keep your windshield clean and clear, but if you have old and worn wiper blades, they could be making it difficult to drive safely. Dirt buildup or dried and cracked wiper blades can scratch your windshield or blur the glass while you’re driving in the rain. Wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
8. Get your brakes checked
Brakes are one of the most important safety features of your car, but car owners still tend to ignore brake issues. Have your brake fluid checked at least once a year, and have the brakes themselves inspected once every six months. Never wait to have your brakes checked if you start to notice noises or if your car no longer brakes smoothly.If you have concerns about your vehicle’s performance or are in need of repair work, contact MTC Tire in Oakville. Our expert technicians can help diagnose and solve a range of vehicle issues. Contact us to make an appointment.
