Car maintenance schedule is available here. It helps to keep track of car maintenance information and reminds you to allocate budget for the maintenance. The schedule is good for people who know nothing about car, who don’t know when and what is needed for car maintenance, and people who is always forgetful for task like sending the car to workshop for maintenance.

Every car has it owns maintenance schedule and it is written in the owners manuals which handover to you when you purchase the car. As usual, car makers have planned all the maintenance like what item need to be checked or what item need to be replaced when the car have reached certain miles.

There is some car owners today confused about what items really need to be service or replace. Some car owners think that the car maintenance is what car makers try to make money out from their pocket after sales.

However, the maintenance is actually to allow the car travel farther and more reliable to use. As long as you understand what car maintenance is and you always keep track of car maintenance schedule, there will be no confusion.

Basic car maintenance schedule

Here is the basic checklist:

• Engine oil – it depends on the oil you use, some good quality engine oil could last longer than 3,000 miles.
• Tires – Usually depends on the weather of the country you stay, heat, sunlight, and ozone conditions. Change only if it is really worn out.
• Air Filter – Change only when it get dirty, there is no rules saying MUST change at any miles travelled.
• Brakes – The checking is important, you can accelerate fast from 0 – 60 miles, you need stop fast from 60 – 0 miles too.
• Check engine and maintenance lights – Checking won’t cause you any cost
• Alarm/Stereo reset procedures
• Engine tune up
• Cooling system service
• Brake fluid service

Scheduled car maintenance checklist

Different car model gives different performance and the maintenance will be different. Every car will definitely come with a maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual or repair manual. Here we give the basic car maintenance checklist from A to Z which suitable for majority cars for your reference (Note that this is just basic guidelines).

What you need to check once a while

Fluid levels – Engine oil, coolant, radiator water, wiper fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, clutch fluid (manual transmission car), gear fluid.

Tire – Tire pressure, thread wear, cuts in sidewall, or uneven. It is recommended to maintain at the right pressure written in the user’s manual. Good balancing of the tire and wheels can always give you a longer lifetime of the tires. (See Top 10 Fuel saving tips)

Wiper– Common wiper made of rubber, during Summer time the windshield become hot and it will spoilt the wiper slowly. Do replace it when you feel the wiper could not wipe away water or snow! Alternative way is to go for silicon wiper which give you less hassle for many years.

Car maintenance at 3,000 miles

• Replace engine oil and filter.
• Check hoses for leaks or bulges, wiper blades, battery terminals and cables for corrosion, and batter water level (for non-maintenance free battery).

Car maintenance at 7,500 miles

• Service battery
• Rotate and tires balance
• Check brake pad wear

Car maintenance at 15,000 miles

• Replace engine oil and filter
• Flush and re-fill transmission fluid and replace new transmission filter
• Replace air filters and fuel filters (Changing a fuel filter)
• Replace PCV and breather element
• Replace carbon canister filter
• Lubricate doors, locks, hinges, e-brake or hand brake
• Check car alignment
• Check CV joint boots
• Service batter and brakes (Usually just checking if nothing goes wrong)

Car maintenance at 30,000 miles

• Replace engine oil and filter
• Flush and replace radiator coolant
• Flush and refill brake fluid
• Replace air filters and fuel filters if it is dirty
• Replace distributor cap, rotor, and wires (for older car model)
• Replace spark plugs
• Replace differential/transfer case fluid
• Inspect exhaust system
• Replace cabin air filter

Car maintenance at 60,000 miles

• Replace engine oil and filter
• Flush and refill power steering fluid
• Replace timing belt or chain
• Replace radiator hoses if it is not in good condition

In conclusion, always remember the most important things to maintain a car in good running condition is mainly the engine oil and oil filter. It is important to mark down the car maintenance schedule.