Bauer’s Ultimate Quick Guide to Auto Maintenance
Know how to take care of your car
As a driver, general auto knowledge is important, especially regarding maintenance.
When you stay on top of car maintenance, you help prevent unexpected breakdowns and extend the life of your vehicle.
Regular maintenance also keeps the overall condition of your vehicle up to par, which improves the safety and reliability of your vehicle.
Our Quick Guide
The professionals at Bauer Auto Service have developed the Ultimate Quick Guide to Auto Maintenance as a guide to reference so you know when and why you should service different components of your vehicle.
This guide will help you become a well-informed car owner who can make informed decisions about your vehicle maintenance.
Keep in mind that this guide is based on the average driver driving about 1,000 miles in a month.
Oil Change
- How often? Every 3,000-5,000 miles or every 3-6 months, depending on how much you drive. Don’t drive a lot at all? (under 3,000 miles per year) Get your oil changed at least once a year.
- Why? Two main reasons.
- Oil has to be changed to maintain the lubrication of engine components.
- Oil should be changed to remove contaminants from oil for optimal engine performance.
- Note: Your car will either take synthetic blend oil or full synthetic oil. Reference your owners manual or a quick online search.
Change Tires
- How often? When tires are too worn down (4/32” inch tread depth at its lowest point) or cracking or splitting.
- Why? Tires on a passenger vehicle need to legally be above 2/32” tread depth for safety and driveability.
Tire Rotation
- How often? Every 5,000 - 10,000 miles.
- Why? Steering tires wear more, so they need to be rotated to spread out the wear amongst all tires and extend tire life. More local road use promotes more outer edge wear on steering tires. If you find yourself doing a lot of local driving, you should get your tires rotated on a more regular basis.
4-Wheel Alignment
- How often? Every new tire change, or when tire wear issues/handling issues need to be corrected.
- Why? Ensure the vehicle stays within the proper alignment range to give you best driveability, gas mileage and longest tire life.
Batteries
- How often? Check annually for leakage and corrosion. Replace every 4 years, 5 years maximum.
- Why? Ensuring battery health is important in preventing breakdowns caused by a dead battery. Also, keeping the battery fresh ensures the optimal performance of computers and starters.
- Did you know? A weak battery can damage electrical components.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Service
- How often? Every 20,000-60,000 miles.
- If you drive mostly locally with a lot of starting and stopping, you should service more frequently. If you drive in 4WD or if you use your vehicle to plow, service is required more frequently.
- Why? Internal filters require replacement and the fluid should be changed. This service maintains lubricity and overall condition so that the internal transmission parts are not prematurely damaged.
Brake Fluid Flush/Service
- How often? Every 50,000 miles or every 5 years.
- Why? To keep moisture out of brake fluid system and to prevent internal contamination
Brake Replacement
- How often? No exact rule of thumb. 20,000, 40,000, or 60,000 miles.
- Brake replacement is based on your driving habits and local vs. highway use. More local use requires more frequent service. Regardless, check your brakes every oil change since they are a critical safety component.
- Why? The brake pad lining thickness needs 6 mm or more to stop the vehicle correctly, including to dissipate the heat properly from braking. Brake pads that are too thin will overheat the brake more quickly. Rotors are also changed at the time of the brake pads to get the best performance and prevent warping.
Coolant Flush
- How often? 50,000 miles or every 5 years.
- Why? Maintain coolant condition to maintain internal cooling system parts including radiator and heater core.
A/C Service
- How often? As needed. Older vehicles may require a yearly AC service if experiencing difficulties.
- Why? Maintain cold A/C output.
Preventative Maintenance Inspection
- How often? During every oil change or at least once a year.
- Why? Get a general front-to-back top-to-bottom lookover of your vehicle for an assessment of general safety and driveability components. Catch small issues and prevent them from turning into bigger, more expensive problems.
Engine Air Filter
- How often? Every 20,000–40,000 miles.
- Why? Cleans the air that goes into the engine. Changing the filter improves the gas mileage and extends engine life.
Cabin Air Filter
- How often? Every 15,000-30,000 miles
- Why? Keeps air inside the passenger compartment clean for a better inside environment and keeps the HVAC component parts working properly.
Lights
- How often? Should be checked monthly.
- Why? Safety and visibility on the road at all times, especially during rain or at night.
Wipers
- How often? Once a year, or as needed
- Why? It is important to maintain clear visibility that is not streaky during inclement weather conditions including rain, snow and fog.
NJ State Inspection
- How often? Every two years for passenger vehicles
- Why? Emissions inspection required by law in the state of NJ to ensure your vehicle emissions are acceptable.
Call us with questions
If you have any doubts about your car maintenance, if you are looking for a personalized plan, or if you are experiencing any vehicle issues, please reach out to Bauer Automotive.