While automotive maintenance is only necessary a couple of times a year, it is still necessary. Don’t feed into the belief that “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” There are plenty of preventive measures that can be taken to ensure that major automotive problems don’t pop up in the future. Keeping up with scheduled maintenance is the difference between having the same car for ten years and prematurely sending it off to the junk yard.

Here is a checklist of a regular maintenance schedule. Follow it to ensure that your car continues to run in tip-top shape:

Every 3 Months or 5,000 Miles

• Check and inspect the coolant level, coolant mixture, lug bolts, oil, power steering fluid, and brake fluid
• Refill washer fluid
• Get an oil change every 5,000 miles, no matter the time frame

Every 6 Months or 8,000-10,000 Miles

• Check tire depth, spark plug wires, and brake systems
• Perform battery cleaning
• Replace windshield wipers

Every Year or 12,000-15,000 Miles

• Fuel pressure regulation and timing belt inspection
• Radiator flush
• Replace spark plugs, brake pads, and fuel filter
• ABS sensor maintenance

Following these simple guidelines will save you a boat load of time and money in the future. A car is an investment; make sure that you continue to invest in it, year after year.