With any car owner, the key to keeping their prized possession alive and in great working condition is by taking it in for regular maintenance. This can prevent certain issues from happening, keep certain parts from wearing out, and maximize resale value. The best way for drivers to ensure they’re getting the right kind of maintenance at the right time is to follow a specific schedule. However, different components of a vehicle require different timelines for maintenance.
As an automotive professional, you can look at the schedule below for reference as to what type of maintenance routine you can suggest. Read on to find out why this type of car maintenance schedule is one you could recommend to vehicle owners during your career.
If a Car Hasn’t Travelled Too Far, Here Are Some Tips
For any driver looking to change their oil, the traditional rule of thumb has been to get it changed after every 5,000 km. However, this rule has been challenged by some in recent years. Some now argue that this is more than twice as frequent as it needs to be. Vehicles that run on synthetic oil can also afford to wait longer than this interval before necessitating a change.
Other types of maintenance that should happen earlier in a vehicle’s lifecycle include:
- monthly tire pressure checks
- inspections of hoses, brakes, and under-hood belts
- tire rotations
- wheel alignment checks
Regarding most other maintenance issues, drivers may be able to wait until about 48,000 km before getting certain parts changed. That being said, certain parts, such as tires or gaskets, can wear out sooner than this interval. With this in mind, encourage car owners to take their vehicles in for maintenance sooner than this timeframe, just to be sure.
What Those With Auto Careers Should Suggest at the 48,000 to 96,000 km Mark
As mentioned, recommending a maintenance schedule to clients after automotive school depends at least partially on how much mileage the vehicle has already racked up. For example, filters for fuel and air are recommended to be changed around the 48,000 km mark—or even half that with air filters. Once a car owner gets closer to 100,000 km, many other parts are also likely to need servicing. These include brake fluids, rotors, transmission fluid, coolant, and batteries. Inspecting a client’s automatic transmission is a practice that should be done biannually, or after every 40,000 km travelled. When a driver gets closer to 100,000 km, they should also get their cooling system inspected and refilled.
Once a Car Goes Well Beyond That Range, What Next?
If a car has accumulated up to 150,000 km of mileage, this is when servicing and/or fully replacing other parts such as timing belts, hoses, and ignition systems becomes necessary. Professionals with auto careers should also perform yearly checks to ensure that the car’s air conditioning is still in good condition. That being said, maintenance intervals for different vehicles are not one size fits all. Some may need more frequent servicing than others, and it’s worth telling clients that they should defer to their owner’s manual whenever they can. If a driver has also experienced frequent idling, tows heavy loads, or often drives in inclement weather or on rough terrain, you could also recommend they put their vehicle through a more frequent and rigorous maintenance routine. This can help keep their car in better working condition for longer, even if it will cost more to do so.
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