Owning a car requires more upkeep and information than most of your other possessions. In addition to a driver’s license, car registration, and automobile insurance, there are various maintenance costs which you may or may not incur. Below you will find a list of items that are considered “wear items”. These are parts of your vehicle which you should expect to wear out eventually as well as the time or distance marker at which they should be inspected or replaced.
- Oil – Every 5,000 miles (depending on the type of oil you choose
- Fuel Filter – Every 24,000 miles or every 2 years
- Battery – Every 48-60 months or as needed.
- Air Filter – Every 12 months, 12,000 miles or as needed
- Automatic Transmission Fluid/Filter – Every 2 years or 24,000 miles
- Spark Plugs – 30,000 – 100,000 miles
- Engine Belt – Every 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Timing Belt – Every 60,000 – 90,000 miles
- Coolant – Every 2 years or 24,000 miles
- Tires – minimum safe tread depth or 6-10 yrs
- Brakes – Every 2 years or 24,000 miles
These are simply the recommended checkpoints for each of the individual parts listed above. You should at the very least check the condition of the part in question when you come across this milestone and replace it if your see the need. Failure to do so could hinder the performance of the vehicle or cause serious damage to more important/expensive parts.