What Is A Typical Car Maintenance Schedule?

Regular maintenance of your car is important to improve its performance, safety, lifespan, and value. It includes oil and filter changes, fluid inspection and top-ups, air and fuel filter replacement, tire rotation, and brake inspection. It also is an opportunity to check for other issues that could become problems in the future. Some issues, such as problems with the brake system and tires, need to be inspected right away to ensure the safety of the driver and others on the road.
Scheduling of car maintenance is usually based on mileage or time intervals. In general, you should take your car in for an oil change following your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. If you suspect there is an issue, have it checked out sooner. Check your manual for maintenance recommendations for your vehicle brand.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about car maintenance, the important milestones for scheduled maintenance, and the warning signs you need to look out for. Let’s begin with understanding some of the most important car repairs and maintenance.
What Are The Most Important Car Repairs And Maintenance?
The most important areas to keep well maintained on your car are the oil, brake pads, air filters, and tires.
Oil Change
Oil is what keeps your engine running smoothly. The heat from the engine breaks down the oil. If it becomes too thin, it won’t lubricate the engine as well and can lead to faster wear and tear. Depending on your vehicle and the type of oil used, you should have scheduled oil changes following your vehicle’s recommended intervals. Engines that use conventional motor oil can be on a 3-month/3,000-mile interval. Those using synthetic varieties might have up to 10,000 miles between oil changes.
Brake Pads
Brake pads have no set schedule for when they need to be changed. Almost all brake pads come with a wear indicator that will make contact with a tab. When you hear a slight screeching or scraping sound, it’s time to need to get your brakes checked.
Air Filters
Clogged air filters can reduce your gas mileage, and horsepower, and cause your engine to stall. As your air filter gets clogged with dirt and dust, there is less airflow around your engine.
Tires
Tires have built-in indicators to show their wear and tear. The tiny ridges should be 1/16 of an inch high. If you run your hands over your tire and notice them to be smooth, uneven, or have waves, it’s time to invest in a new pair of tires.
Others

Various fluids, bearings, engine components, and electronics all require maintenance as well. Be mindful of your driving habits, the season, and your owner’s manual for a full vehicle maintenance schedule.

Signs Your Car Needs Maintenance Done

Even the most well-maintained car will encounter problems that require unexpected service. Often, the vehicle will let you know before it stops operating that there’s an issue needing attention.

The “check engine” light or “service engine soon” indication on the dashboard aren’t the only clues that should prompt you to call a repair shop:

There are less obvious clues that something might be wrong with the car, and these signs can be intermittent or vague. Remember that you know how your car drives better than anyone does. If something seems different, it might be the start of a more significant problem.

Contact your FastLap service advisor and let them know what you feel and hear when the car begins acting up.

Vehicle Maintenance Checklist

Keep up with a schedule of preventative maintenance to maximize the lifespan and performance of your vehicle. Use this list to be aware of what – and when – tasks should be done to help keep your car in proper working order.

Service intervals can vary from make and model, so be sure to follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

Service Needed
Monthly Check-up

Here’s everything that you need to inspect on a monthly basis.

3-Month Check-up

3-month check-ups are more extensive and usually entail a detailed inspection of the following: 

6-Month Check-up

6-month check-ups are crucially important to maintain the health of your vehicle’s tires, exhaust system, chassis, and outer body.

1-Year Check-up

Some parts of your vehicle require inspection and replacement on an annual basis, such as the cabin air filters and coolant. Here’s everything that’s inspected and repaired during your car’s annual maintenance check-up. 

2-Year Check-up

To keep your car’s ignition, transmission, and fuel systems in perfect shape, they should be inspected by professional technicians once every two years. When you bring your car for 2-year maintenance check up, here’s what we inspect and replace:

Long-Term Check-up

To increase the lifespan of your vehicle, you need a long-term maintenance plan to repair and replace the parts that go through regular wear and tear. The long-term check-up of your car must cover the following:

We hope this article helped you understand the importance of regular maintenance and the warning signs to look out for. However, these milestones for car maintenance are general guidelines and not an exhaustive list. We advise you to carefully follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations on scheduled vehicle service. And the most important thing is to find auto repair professionals who can help you with your car’s needs and provide you with the level of maintenance that your car deserves.

At FastLap, we have a team of trained technicians who are dedicated to improving the performance of your vehicles. Get in touch with us to discuss your car’s scheduled maintenance or book an appointment now.

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