What is My Car Maintenance Schedule?

When it comes to preserving the performance and safety of your vehicle, regular maintenance is essential. As a general rule, there are specific maintenance tasks you should perform on your vehicle at specific mileage points. 

For a better understanding of what a typical car maintenance schedule looks like, check out the handy maintenance guide below. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for model-specific maintenance guidelines.

Every 3,000 to 7,000 Miles

Depending on your make and model, you should perform the following vehicle maintenance between 3,000 and 7,000 miles:

• Change engine oil and oil filter
• Check the fuel filter
• Check all exterior lights
• Check tire pressure, tread, and wear
• Check transmission fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid levels and check wipers
• Check belts, exhaust, and hoses

Every 15,000 to 30,000 Miles

• Replace the air filter every 15,000 miles
• Inspect the battery and coolant every 20,000 miles 
• Most 25,000-mile maintenance service requires replacing the fuel filter 
• Every 30,000 miles, replace the air filter and power steering fluid
• Every 30,000 miles, inspect the coolant, radiator hoses, HVAC system, brake pads, and all suspension components

Every 35,000 to 50,000 Miles

• Every 35,000 inspect and replace the battery as needed
• Every 40,000 miles replace the spark plugs and spark plug wires, and inspect the ignition system and suspension
• These checks are recommended again at 45,000 miles and 50,000 miles

Every 60,000 Miles

• Replace brake pads and brake fluid, radiator hoses, coolant, power steering fluid, and timing belt
• Inspect the HVAC, suspension components, and tires

Every Month

In addition to the above schedule, there are maintenance tasks you should perform each month to keep your vehicle running at its best:

• Check that interior and exterior lights are working correctly

• Ensure windshield wiper fluid is full

• Make sure the check engine light isn’t on

• Properly clean the interior and exterior

• Perform tire pressure and tread checks

Why Follow a Car Maintenance Schedule?

Besides your home, your car is one of your bigger purchases in life. And to make sure you get the most for your money, you’ll want to preserve your vehicle’s performance and safety for as long as possible by following a car maintenance schedule. 

Disregarding routine service can eventually lead to problems on your daily Surprise journeys, making your vehicle more prone to issues, breakdowns, and overheating. Not only are these incidents inconvenient, but they can be costly as well. Keeping up with a proper maintenance schedule ensures your vehicle is running at its best, while also saving you money.

Need More Maintenance Schedule Advice? Ask Cactus Jack's Auto!

To learn more about model-specific maintenance schedules, feel free to contact us at your convenience. We can also share tips on how to remove stickers from your car and cover how many miles tires last!