Car Maintenance Schedule

If you can be aware and follow a maintenance schedule for your car, it is going to cut down on major problems and total money you will have to spend on repairs for the car. There is the 30-60-90 rule and then there are also the regular maintenance suggestions. We are going to cover both of these below.

Standard Maintenance

Oil Changes – The oil in your car and the filter need to be changed every 3,000-10,000 miles depending on the year of your car and the type of oil you are using. This is generally a pretty easy thing to keep track of, as your local mechanic can provide you with reminders and a sticker on the windshield.

Tire Rotation – Many people are unaware of the importance of getting your tires rotated each time you go in for an oil change. Doing this will drastically improve the overall lifetime of your tires by allowing them to wear evenly. Unlike some other automotive repair shops, we include tire rotation with every oil change that we perform.

30,000 Mile Maintenance

Air Filter – The recommended time to change the air filter in your car is between 15,000-30,000 miles. Failing to change this will result in your air filter becoming clogged, resulting in decreased engine performance.

Fuel Filter – While it may not need to be replaced just yet, it is important to have your mechanic to run a diagnostic test to ensure that your fuel filter is still functioning properly.

60,000 Mile Maintenance

Battery – Most car batteries will last up to 60,000 miles, but depend on various factors. If you are nearing that 60,000-mile mark, it is a good idea to have your battery checked and replaced.

Transmission Fluid – It is very important to get this checked, as you will generally need to replace the transmission fluid between 30,000-60,000 miles. Low transmission fluid levels will cause major issues with your transmission.

Coolant – This is important to ensure that your engine does not overheat. It is recommended to flush the entire cooling system and replace the coolant at 60,000 miles.

Brake Fluid – This is a key component of ensuring that your breaks are working properly. The standard recommendation is to replace the brake fluid between 20,000-40,000 miles.

Brake Pads & Rotors – Here at Enjoying Mechanics, we will typically take a look at your brakes & rotors when we are performing and oil change, however it is still important to know the basics. For brake pads, they will generally last up to 50,000 miles, while rotors can last up to 60,000.

90,000 Mile Maintenance

Spark Plugs – You will generally get a check engine light in your car when one of your spark plugs goes bad. It is common to see this start happening before or around the 90,000-mile mark.

Hoses – The hoses in your car carry both coolant and power steering fluid. If these were to break, it would cause a lot of problems with your engine. It is important to get these checked as you approach 90,000 miles.

Timing Belt – We highly recommend changing your timing belt between 80,000-90,000 miles. If this breaks, it can cause thousands of dollars in damage, so we always air on the side of caution here.

The guidelines above are just estimates and can vary from car to car and driver to driver. We recommend having your car checked regularly by a mechanic that you can trust. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!