CheckList for your car, & Android APPS for reminder!
Trying to remember all your appointments, important dates and phone numbers is commendable, if hardly possible. That’s a major reason you carry a smartphone; its ability to make calls has almost become an ancillary feature.
So, considering what you already need to keep sorted, you might think you don’t have the head space for a car-maintenance checklist. Proper car upkeep takes more than keeping gas in the tank and changing the engine oil regularly, so neglect is neither an option nor an excuse. So, at least whip out your phone and enter our advice -- it ranks high or at least it should -- among must-remember data. For each entry on our car-maintenance checklist, we’ll show the general time and/or mileage intervals between replacements, but always confirm with your owner’s manual, since these may vary from car to car.
This is an item that’s probably as important as it is overlooked. Assuming yours is a fuel-injected car, the fuel filter is more or less on continuous duty whenever your ignition is on and the fuel pump is active, preventing impurities from clogging injectors. So, over time, replacement will be necessary. Locations vary from beneath the hood or undercarriage to inside the fuel tank itself. Since systems are often pressurized and fuel lines need to be safely crimped, you might prefer to let a technician handle it.
When to replace: Every 2 years or 38,624 km.
On your car-part replacement calendar, it doesn’t get much easier than where your power steering fluid is concerned. Still, give it proper consideration, since it lubricates the system and keeps the steering feel consistent. Periodic checks of the fluid are done with a glance at the reservoir or the dipstick inside it. Make sure you add only the manufacturer’s suggested fluid type and talk to a technician if the level drops considerably or you feel surges of resistance as you turn the wheel.
When to replace: Inspect level with every engine-oil change, top off as needed.
How often do car batteries receive proactive attention? About as frequently as Metallica’s “Battery” is heard on easy-listening stations. Even if you keep your terminals clean and your charging system works fine, you’ll eventually need to replace the battery. When you do, do it right. Use only the battery that matches manufacturer’s specs at the very least. Consider upgrading to advanced-technology batteries that offset higher initial cost with extended life and more consistent performance.
When to replace: Typically 48 to 60 months or as needed.
Most often out of sight and out of mind, the air filter deserves better, and a place on your car part replacement calendar is a start. Try running with your hand over your mouth, and you’ll get an idea how much your engine depends on air. That air for the engine and airflow sensor still has to be free of contaminates, though, and that’s your air filter’s job. Be aware of manufacturer recommendations for replacing related airflow components like the PCV valve and oxygen sensor, if your car has them.
When to replace: 12 months, 19,312 km or as needed.
In cars with conventional automatic or clutchless gearboxes, fluid is to the transmission what oil is to the engine in terms of function and importance. It fights friction and keeps things within safe operating temps. Ignoring it pretty much leads to the same issues: expensive repair bills at the mechanic. Fortunately, prevention is similarly easy. Check the fluid periodically, top off with the specific kind recommended in your owner’s manual and change it occasionally along with the filter.
When to replace: Every 2 years or 38,624 km.
You can’t have an internal combustion engine without combustion, and spark plugs make it happen by firing up the mixture of air and fuel in each cylinder, either alone or in a pair. Cleaner-burning engines and advances in plug construction mean less maintenance and extended service, but they still need to be replaced. Whether or not they’ve reached their mileage limit, they (and the plug wires) could be to blame when mileage suffers, the engine runs poorly and you fail your emissions test.
When to replace: Every 48,280 to 160,934 km.
No.4 Engine belts & timing belts
It’s no accident for engine belts to have a prominent spot on your car-part replacement calendar. The one or more outside keep components like your alternator and water pump active. Inside, the timing belt (some cars have timing chains) keeps valves from bashing into pistons. When either belt fails, it’s bad news. At the very least, your forward progress will cease to be. At worst, you’ll need major engine work at the mechanic in the case of some timing-belt breakage and the resulting carnage.
When to replace: Every 3 years or 57,936 km for engine belts or 96,560 to 144,840 km for the timing belt.
No.3 Coolant
That liquid in the radiator is a real multitasker. It serves as antifreeze, coolant and guards against corrosion in the cooling system. So, given its duties, you can appreciate its rank on your car-part replacement calendar. Do check the level regularly, but also understand its cleanliness and potency diminish. Topping off and changing should only be done with the right coolant type and water mixture ratio (typically 50/50).
When to replace: Every 2 years or 38,624 km.
No.2 Tires
Tire wear patterns are telling -- revealing aggressive driving, improper inflation or worn suspension components. Regardless, you’ll eventually need fresh tires. The best way to confirm is with a tread depth gauge. Alternately, stick a penny upside down in the grooves (if you see the top of the president’s head, it's time to replace the tire) or check built-in wear bars. Age is also a concern, since longer-asting tires and use of multiple sets (i.e., winter and summer) can mean safety is compromised even with adequate tread depth.
When to replace: At the minimum safe tread depth or 6 to 10 years.
No.1 Brakes
We’re honestly baffled why anyone would ignore or even undervalue their brake system. The effects of failures of the other items on our car-part replacement calendar range from inconvenient to being stranded, but with the possible exception of tires, no failure's potentially lethal except that of brakes. Preventing that mess is drama-free: Just check the fluid level and change it every so often. Keep an eye on brake-pad condition, and replace as soon as safety is compromised.
When to replace: Every 2 years or 38,624 km (fluid), prior to minimum safe thickness (pads).
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