Time To Change?

You wash it, you wax it, you fill it with gas. You’re done, right?

Not so fast. Your car needs more attention than those basics. Just as we all need a yearly checkup with the doctor, your car needs someone to check its vital signs and uncover any problems that might be brewing under the hood.

You can perform many of these checks yourself, with a little familiarity. The first thing to do, says Bob Clark, manager of industry relations at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and an ASE-certified technician himself, is to consult the owner’s manual. There, you’ll find the locations of the service points and the manufacturer’s recommendations on what to change and when. "It’s a very important issue," says Clark. "Manufacturers change the basic guidelines based on a number of different things."

What should you focus on when checking things out yourself? Clark recommends the following:

Oil: Most manufacturers recommend that you change oil every 3000 miles, which seems to be too often for many people. "Use that number as the minimum mileage, and 7500 miles as a maximum," suggests Clark. "For your particular car, you should use judgment based on how you drive the car."

If you’re doing a lot of typical driving, such as stop-and-go city driving, commuting, or mostly short trips, Clark says to lean more towards the 3000-mile interval. For mostly highway driving and longer trips, you can stretch it out to 7500 miles. And if you use your car infrequently, base the change interval on time, rather than miles. "Oil loses its lubricating properties even when it’s just sitting there in a cold engine," Clark says.

Transmission: In this case, it’s safe to stick with recommendations, says Clark. The one exception is if you’re towing even a light utility trailer. "That really increases transmission heat," Clark notes. "You should consult with a professional if you’re towing a lot. You may even want to add another cooler to the transmission." In any case, always remember to replace the fluid filter with each fluid change, he adds.

Tire rotation: It seems like something only car enthusiasts do, but rotating your tires gives them a longer lease on life, Clark says. "Tires wear at different rates — front-drive vehicles wear their tires down more rapidly than rear-drive cars, for example." Rotating spreads that wear out evenly among all four tires. Most manufacturers and tire shops call for rotation every 5000 to 10,000 miles, a good schedule to stick with, Clark says.

Coolant: Here, it’s especially critical to follow recommendations, Clark says. Old coolant can lose its anti-corrosion properties, and today’s aluminum radiators can be expensive to replace. "Some newer technology allows you 100,000 miles between coolant changes, and some manufacturers recommend a two-year change interval," he adds. Whatever the recommendation, make sure you dispose of coolant safely, as it’s poisonous to children and pets.

Wiper blades: This one’s simple. "When you can’t see very well at all, that’s a clue to replace blades," Clark says. Severe winter weather wears out blades quickly — road salt and ice being the chief culprits — so you may need more frequent replacements in frosty weather. One way to keep blades longer is to keep your washer reservoir full: "Plenty of liquid will keep the blades in better shape," he says.