To keep your car in its best shape, you have to stay on top of routine maintenance and regular car services. But what does that entail, and how frequently should you be getting your car serviced? Wilson Tire & Auto in Nashville has advice to keep your vehicle healthy.
Your Vehicle, Your Maintenance Schedule
There is no one-size-fits-all maintenance schedule for every vehicle. A car’s schedule for tune-ups varies depending on the vehicle type — the make and model — as well as its wear and tear. As the age of the car increases, regular maintenance will follow suit. How frequently you drive will also determine how frequently you need service; people who rarely drive and have low mileage will not need maintenance as frequently as those who drive long distances regularly and have high mileage.
To get the specifics for your vehicle, you can check your car owner’s manual for the maintenance schedule — if you do not still have this, it can usually be found online by searching the make, model, and year of your car, and the term ‘owner’s manual’ (for example, ‘Kia Sportage 2014 owners manual’).
General Car Part Timelines
While there’s no one perfect timeline, there are some averages for general maintenance that you can keep in mind if you are unable to find your schedule. Oil changes, for example, should be done approximately every 5,000 miles, or every six months. Some areas will also require annual inspections — while Tennessee has no state requirement for car inspections, some counties require regular emissions testing — which will keep you aware of any parts of your car that may need to be serviced or replaced.
Otherwise, we recommend doing regular checks on your car’s various parts and systems (brakes, lights, filters, etc.) so you can find any signs of damage or wear and tear early. After all, keeping up with regular maintenance both prevents damage and safety issues down the road, and solves small problems before they become major, costly issues. Additionally, here are general timelines on when you should expect the need to replace these automotive parts:
- Air filters should be changed every 12-15,000 miles
- Fuel filters and fluids should be replaced every 30,000
- Car batteries have an average life of about 5 years
- Tires can last approximately 6 years
Let’s Start Your Schedule
Are you coming up on a milestone in your maintenance schedule? Wilson Tire & Auto’s expert technicians are ready to help. We are here to answer any questions you may have about next steps, what each service involves, and exactly how often your car needs to be serviced.
