Regular Vehicle Maintenance Checklist: Things to Check on Your Car on a Regular Basis

When you own a car, it needs utmost care on a regular basis. Apart from professional maintenance, you should conduct regular self-checkups as a car owner. Moreover, if you are planning car checks before a long journey, the foremost thing is performing an overall check-up. Remember that lack of maintenance will eventually lead to serious issues in the major systems. 

The market size of Australia’s Motor Vehicle Engine and Parts Repair and Maintenance industry was $11.8bn in 2022. People are highly concerned about their vehicle maintenance. Especially the luxury car owners check out for regular professional check-ups. 

If you think about what I should regularly check on my car, below is the list of check-ups of major systems. Get a clear insight into the short-term and long-term regular car check-ups. 

5 Short-Term Regular Car Check-ups 

Let’s go through the short-term check-ups to avoid potential care damage.

• Oil and Oil Levels Check-up

After every few gas fill-ups, it is necessary to check under the car’s hood to check the engine oil level. It is further recommended to do so, especially before the longer road trips. Lower oil levels in your vehicle can lead to engine problems. This is why you must have your eyes on it regularly. Always refer to the user’s manual to locate the hood on your specific car model. 

• Regularly Check the Headlights

It is necessary that the lights work properly. Car owners usually overlook this but need check-ups to ensure safe driving. The headlights need maintenance at least once a month. To check the current state of your vehicle/car’s headlight, park it in front of a flat wall. This way, you can determine whether the headlights are working properly or not. 

To check the turning signals, go around your car and do a visual check-up. And, if you want to check the brake lights, ask someone to stand behind the car to ensure that it is functional.

• Air Filter Check-Up and Timely Replacement

The air filter of the engine regulates the air passing through it. It removes dust particles and debris from the engine system. You must ensure that your air filter is circulating properly. It will further improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. This will increase your engine’s longevity with better performance. You can do an air filter check-up at home following the user manual. Make sure to replace the air filters on time. 

• Wax Your Vehicle 

Usually, a car mechanic in Melbourne recommends waxing the vehicle every six months. Waxing not only keeps your car shiny, but it also aids in keeping the paint in good shape. Moreover, it prevents the car’s body from rust and corrosion. 

Many irritants, such as dust, debris and sand, harm the external paint. Besides, environmental impacts like UV rays and ozone lead to microscopic damage. At the early stage, these damages are hard to identify. Over time, you can notice the paint starts fading, giving a dreadful look to your car. This is why waxing is essential; it will act as a protective seal, enhancing the paint’s lifespan. 

• Check Tyre Pressure and Tyre Rotation

The tread wear pattern will vary between front and rear tyres depending on the car’s alignment. Tyre rotation will prolong its lifespan. It will balance the tread wear more uniformly. Moreover, it will prevent noise and vibration issues.

Apart from rotation, tyre pressure check-ups must not be missed regularly. Especially when you decide on long journeys, check the pressure. Note that your car tyres are cold during the inspection. This is because hot tyres may give inaccurate pressure readings.

Few Long-Term Regular Car Check-ups 

Now, let’s check out the long-term car check-ups and maintenance list. It will help you know about car checks before a long journey. 

• Transmission Fluid 

Like engine oil, transmission oil is a lubricant that helps keep the car’s moving parts running smoothly. Moreover, it ensures better functionality of the components for a longer period. 

Whether you prefer to drive your commercial car with an automatic or a manual transmission, it is necessary to check the transmission oil. Also, it will prevent damages or costly replacement. The Commercial car mechanic in Melbourne suggests following the car manufacturer’s recommendations for transmission fluid check-ups. 

• Inspection of Struts and Shocks

Your car’s shock absorbers and struts control the potential collisions. It rebounds when your vehicle passes bumps on the road. Therefore, it is an essential part of the car’s steering system. The experts recommend professionally inspecting it every 50,000 miles. Taking your vehicle to a professional is better if you notice a loss of control while driving.

• Coolant Fluid Exchange and Coolant Level Check-up

The radiator is essential to keeping the car’s engine cool and running efficiently. Regularly flushing the cooling system will remove contaminants that have built up inside. Make sure the radiator is filled to the proper level. Check your car manufacturer’s recommendations to know how often to replace the coolant system.

It is necessary to check the antifreeze level in the radiator. Especially during winter, prevent the radiator from freezing and frequently check the coolant level. It is generally a good idea to utilise a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze. However, consult your car’s manual or consult a car mechanic in Melbourne to be sure.

• Transfer Fluid Case

In an all-wheel drive, the transfer case is the part that transmits power from the transmission to the axles. You must test the transfer fluid case to ensure it is properly filled. Also, make sure that it is not leaking. This will require you to get under the car, so you should have a professional do it.

• Spark Plugs

The engine’s spark plugs ignite a mixture of gas and air to power your vehicle. The engine may lose power if the spark plugs don’t work properly. Also, it will not operate at optimal capacity. Have a professional check-up and replacement for faulty spark plugs following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. You should consider immediately replacing the spark plugs when you notice a decrease in engine power.

• Battery Performance Check-up

A car battery is one of the most vital parts for the vehicle’s operation. Car batteries provide a lot of power to the starter, engine and other electronic parts of the car. Excessive heat affects the battery’s performance, so checking your battery regularly will ensure it’ll work when you need it. Additionally, considering car battery replacement when necessary is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of the vehicle.

• Replace Windshield Wipers

When you notice their ineffectiveness, you must replace the windshield wipers once a year. During the winter months, when fog and frost may hinder your vision, you must install the wiper blades for optimal performance. 

• Wheel Alignment 

Does your vehicle lean slightly to the left or to the right when driving? This clearly indicates that you should check the alignment of your wheels. Adjusting your vehicle’s wheel alignment ensures that your vehicle will steer and react the way you want when you need to make a quick turn.

Final Thoughts 

These are the regular short-term and long-term check-ups of every car’s model. Keeping up with your car’s maintenance schedule is very important. It will help you record your car’s maintenance status well. 

Moreover, it will prolong the car’s lifespan and protect you from costly repairs, breakdowns, and unexpected surprises. To make it simple and easy to check out the track of your car maintenance schedule, make sure to follow the above car maintenance checklist.