Routine Maintenance: When Should You Have a Particular Service Performed on Your Vehicle?

Every car is different and will have slightly different maintenance requirements. To find out exactly how often to get certain car services, check your car’s owner’s manual. But in general your local car repair shop will offer the following service schedule recommendations for most cars.

Engine Oil

Your car’s engine oil should be changed roughly once per year or every 7,500 miles if you use conventional oil, or longer if you have synthetic oil. If you have a diesel engine or a turbocharged gasoline-powered engine, you should probably get the oil changed every 3,000 miles or once every six months, whichever comes first.

Tire Maintenance

To ensure optimal fuel economy and safety, you should measure the air pressure in your tires and adjust them to the recommended PSI levels in your car’s owner’s manual at least once per month. To maximize your tire life and improve handling, your tires need to be rotated and aligned regularly. Check with your mechanics when you get an oil change to see if it’s time to get your tires rotated or your wheels aligned. 

Transmission Fluid Flush

Since this will always depend on your car and the type of driving you do, it’s a good idea to get your car’s transmission fluid inspected each time you go to a car repair shop for an engine oil change or for tire maintenance. If the fluid is low, the mechanics can check for leaks and top the fluid off. If it’s dirty, they will flush the fluid and refill it so your transmission stays in the best condition.

Filter Change

Your car’s oil, fuel, air, and cabin filters can only absorb a certain amount of impurities over time before they need to be replaced. If you don’t replace them, they will contaminate your car’s most important components and decrease their overall life. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to ask your mechanics to check your filters every three months or 3,000 miles.

For all of your car maintenance and repair needs, come to Casey Automotive . Call us at (866) 709-3522 for more information about maintaining your car, visit our one of our locations in Schaumburg, Prospect Heights, or Hoffman Estates.