Regular car maintenance is vital if you want your vehicle to be as reliable as possible. But what do you need to check and change, when does it need to be done?
The following car service schedule is our recommended minimum standard for vehicles that are driven daily, and in many cases are shorter than the manufacturer's recommendations. But if you drive off-road, tow a trailer, idle or drive at low speeds for extended periods or drive for short periods (less than four miles at a time) in freezing temperatures, even shorter intervals are recommended.
As ever, check the handbook for official guidance on your vehicle maintenance timeline, in the unlikely event that one of them is shorter than any of those shown below.
Car maintenance checklist
Every 250 miles or weekly
- Check the engine oil level
- Check the coolant level
- Check the windshield washer fluid level
- Check the brake fluid levels
- Check the tires and tire pressures
Every 3,000 miles or 3 months
...all items listed above, as well as
- Check the power steering fluid level
- Check the automatic transmission fluid level
Every 7,500 miles or 6 months
...all items listed above, as well as
- Change engine oil and filter
- Rotate the tires
- Inspect the windshield wiper blades
- Inspect under-hood hoses
- Check the cooling system
Find a Haynes manual for your vehicle
Every 15,000 miles or 12 months
...all items listed above, as well as
- Check the battery and clean the terminals
- Check the tightness of the wheel lug nuts
- If applicable, check the differential oil level in the front (4x4) and rear axles
- Check the fuel system
- Check the brake system
- Check the anti-freeze concentration
- Check the exhaust system
- Check the transfer case oil level (4x4)
- Check the air filter
- Check the engine accessory belt
- Check the underbody and brake/fuel lines
- Check the seat belts
Every 30,000 miles or 30 months
...all items listed above, as well as
- Change the brake fluid
- Check/change the transmission fluid and filter
- Change transfer case oil (4x4)
- Renew the coolant
- Replace the air filter
- Replace the cabin filter
- Check the steering, suspension and drive axle boots
- Inspect evaporative emissions control system
- Renew the remote control battery
- Replace the spark plugs
Every 48,000 miles or 40 months
- Renew the timing belt (if applicable)
Every 60,000 miles or 48 months
...all items listed above, as well as
- Inspect/replace the spark plug wires
- Change the differential oil
