If you follow below car maintenance checklist and perform periodic service on regular interval, it will increase life and performance of your vehicle. These kinds of scheduled quick check ups and repair can be handle quickly with minimal expenses and you can easily take care of your car. You don’t need to be mechanically expert to perform car maintenance checklist, you only need to know the basics. It is to ensure that car is running in good condition. Famous quote “Stitch in time, saves nine”, and the regular maintenance will help you save from big expenses down the road. And when it’s time to sell your car, show the vehicle maintenance checklist pdf file and ask good amount.
General Car maintenance checklist
You should check general car maintenance checklist on monthly basis to avoid any unwanted situation.
OIL AND COOLANT LEVELS
Every month or before going on a longer road journey, you should get under the hood of your car to inspect the oil condition and coolant level in radiator. If you do not find them, you can refer to owner’s manual to locate. If any of them is hitting to low level, change them immediately and also consult any mechanical authorized workshop.
AIR FILTER
Air filter is in a black box on the top of your engine with buckles on it. If you can not locate, refer to owner’s manual. Air filter gives clean air to engine for combustion process. If the air flow is proper, it will increase fuel efficiency and help to maintain healthy engine. You can do this at home after reading the owner’s manual instructions.
TIRE PRESSURE AND TREAD DEPTH
Whenever you start driving your car, it is good to visually inspect car tires tread thickness. Well maintained tires are most important for your safety and it also makes your ride fuel efficient. Every month or carrying some extra load or making a long trip you should check the pressure in your tires. You should check owner manual, in winter and summer how much air pressure should be.
CAR LIGHTS
It is important that your car head lights, turn signals , brake lights and parking lights function properly. Every month you should park your car somewhere and turn on head lights, parking lights to check they are working proper. Headlights are well-positioned. Ask your friend to see when you press brake, brake lights turn on.
OIL & FILTER
Motor oil lubricate the moving part of engine and helps reduce friction and cools the engine. Clean engine oil is very important for good engine health. Consult with the professional when you should change oil and filter. It totally dependent on your car engine condition, if it is new you should change between 5000 – 10,000 miles. And after every oil change you should update car maintenance checklist by mileage, so that you can keep track of record.
ROTATE TIRES
If you have a rare wheel drive car, than front and back Tire wear pattern may be different. So after 20,000 Km you should swap and rotate each of them, it will increase life of tires and reduce noise and vibration problems.
WAX VEHICLE
Most of the time your car is parked in sun or dust which effects the shine of your car. After few months you should get your car waxed, it will create a protective seal to extent your car paint’s life.
Bi-Annual Car maintenance checklist
This bi annual car maintenance check list contains checkup for fluids, shocks and spark plugs. Their life is long but you need to check for leakage or wear and tear on regular basis.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
If you have an automatic or manual car, transmission fluid keeps all the moving parts inside of your transmission smooth. You should get it checked bi-annually to avoid any transmission damage. You can have this information from vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation manual.
TRANSFER CASE FLUID
You have to get under the vehicle or you might need to ask any professional to check the transfer fluid is properly filled and no-leakage. Transfer fluid shifts power from transmission to axles.
INSPECT SHOCKS AND STRUTS
If you start feeling that your car does not pass smoothly on the bumps, than it’s time to go a workshop they will inspect and suggest you.
SPARK PLUGS
If you feel your engine is not running in fully capacity, there might be a chance of rust on spark plugs. In order to examine you need to consult any professional.
SERPENTINE BELT
These belts needs to be visually examined after every few months, because they keep running all your devices like generator, power steering pump and air conditioner. These belts should be free of cracks or other wear and tear. If any one is damaged, it should be immediately replaced.
REPLACE WINDSHIELD WIPERS
If you feel windshield wipers do not clean water from the screen, it should be replaced. In winter you should install winter wipers for better performance.
BATTERY PERFORMANCE CHECK
Your car starts on battery, if battery performance is low than you should replace immediately, as winter also affect the performance. You should regularly do battery testing.
Conclusion
You can create this vehicle preventive maintenance checklist excel and keep it, this will help to maintain your car and it will increase life performance and overall efficiency as well.
