How to Regularly Conduct Car Maintenance
Proper maintenance at 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 miles can keep your car in top shape and running well, and decrease the amount you spend on repairs.
Written by Brady Klopfer
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Regularly maintaining your car is a pivotal part of having a vehicle. Regular maintenance can keep your car running well, while also helping you spot problems before they happen, thus preventing costly repairs from happening. Keeping up with a maintenance schedule also increases your vehicle’s resale value.
To keep your car properly maintained, you should perform certain maintenance tasks at specific intervals. By doing so, you’ll replace some components before they malfunction, and help spot serious issues before they occur. Thankfully, maintaining your vehicle at regular intervals is relatively straightforward. This article discusses key maintenance tasks that should be performed at the 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 mile marks.
Part 1 of 3: Maintenance to perform every 10,000 miles
Depending on how much you drive, 10,000 miles can be on your odometer in the blink of an eye. But even if you accumulate 10,000 miles in a month or two, you don’t want to avoid the maintenance that should be performed at this interval.
Every 10,000 miles, you want to do a basic inspection of all the standard elements of your vehicle. You should check to make sure that all the car’s lights are working, and that all of your vehicle’s fluids (oil, coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and transmission fluid) are at a sufficient level.
10,000 miles is also when you need to check in on your belts and hoses. A reputable mechanic can inspect your belts and hoses, and replace any that are too worn, and in danger of breaking. While your brakes don’t need to be replaced every 10,000 miles, they should be inspected to make sure that all of the components are in working order. If you’re having a mechanic inspect your hoses and belts, have them take a look at your brakes as well.
Finally, you should have your tires rotated at least once every 10,000 miles, so make sure to get on that as soon as your odometer says it’s time.
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Part 2 of 3: Maintenance to perform every 50,000 miles
50,000 miles may seem like a lot, but it can sneak up on you if you drive a lot. However, it’s also a pivotal time for any car owner. 50,000 miles represents a stage at which vehicles can start to have issues that you should really keep your eye on. At the half-century mark, potential mechanical failures can be a lot more serious and costly, so you want to be smart and preemptive.
At 50,000 miles, you need to make sure your fuel system is happy. The entire fuel system should be checked, and the fuel filter should be replaced. The exhaust system will also require a full inspection, and any damaged components will need to be replaced.
All four of your tires should also be replaced at 50,000 miles, and, after replacement, you should have a wheel alignment, to make sure the next 50,000 miles are smooth. Finally, you’ll want a trained mechanic to check your suspension, and your transmission.
Part 3 of 3: Maintenance to perform every 100,000 miles
100,000 is a magic number for car owners: it means you’ve really driven your car a long while. With a little TLC, however, most vehicles can make it another 100,000 miles with relative ease. However, proper maintenance is important.
At 100,000 miles, you’ll want a mechanic to perform a full vehicle inspection. This is the point where parts of your vehicle can fall apart for seemingly no reason, so you want to be sure to cover all of your bases with preemptive measures. From your fluid levels, to your steering system, to your suspension, a complete inspection at 100,000 miles will keep your car running for the long haul.
Maintaining a vehicle doesn’t need to be a big hassle. If you want to keep it running well, follow these routine services every 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 miles.
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