What are some regular maintenance that cars need that everyone should know?
Posted by DMofTheTomb@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 48 comments
For example, getting and oil change and changing the cabin/engine air filters. I typically just do those once a year. Anything else I should know to do yearly or every few years?
ocabj@reddit
I'll also argue for:
PerformerNovel4641@reddit
Why coolant if it’s a closed system and would you worry that you are just starting trouble if there isn’t any … TIA
waldcha@reddit
trasmission fluid gets missed a lot. 30k or 60k depending on type
Particular-Second642@reddit
I was charged $485 to do my transmission fluids is that track with yall or do a search i was also thinking about renting a lift for a month from a guy to do this and some more.
waldcha@reddit
Never paid someone else to do mine. It was fairly easy to do my Honda fit on jacks though. Last time I did it, I spent about $50 for genuine Honda fluid.
DMofTheTomb@reddit (OP)
What places do that, and what does it cost?
Romestus@reddit
It's cheap if you just drain and fill the fluid in the pan but then you still have a transmission half full of dirty fluid since the oil doesn't return to the pan when you shut the car off, it's wherever it was in the transmission at the time.
Shops will hook up a machine to your transmission that cycles clean fluid through it in order to fully clean it out but that costs significantly more. They'll usually call that a transmission flush instead and only shops that have the machine for it will be able to do it.
Good idea to also do the transmission filter but depending on the model it can be a pita. The newer ZF transmissions can be serviced at much longer intervals than older automatic transmissions. If you have a manual you can wait even longer to do a fluid change and it's simpler to service.
SkylineFTW97@reddit
Some manuals have shorter intervals, like Hondas. Honda MTF is much thinner than the gear oils most manuals use, they used to call for 10W-40 engine oil before it.
And flushes are generally a bad idea. They have a much greater likelihood of damaging or cross contaminating something, it's best to stick to drain and fills. Do it 3x instead of a flush if you're dealing with worn fluid.
murphydcat@reddit
Honda recommends that I drain and fill transmission fluid from my CR-V every 30,000 miles. No flushing.
SkylineFTW97@reddit
Correct. Flushes are more trouble than they're worth.
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
$25, DIY. If you can change oil, you can do a transmission change - takes a slightly different technique but is not rocket science.
waldcha@reddit
just a fluid change, any regular mechanic should be able to do it. No idea on cost though, I have always done my own.
Look_b4_jumping@reddit
Trans filter too ?
waldcha@reddit
if you have one, mine does not.
Particular-Second642@reddit
My mechanic just change the rotor and rear drum breaks and did a whole kit but i didnt change the front disc calips should i do and he did bleed the break is that the same thing were talking about here correct?
West-Independent-926@reddit
There are some really great apps/websites that can help with reminding you what maintenance might need to be done to your car, like https://driverecord.co.uk
Looks at your car’s MOT history and uses AI to spot common issues for that make and model, to predict what maintenance will need to be done and when.
AhJeezNotThisAgain@reddit
Charge the battery regularly (a small Battery Tender-type is plenty sufficient) and keep the terminals clean.
Separate-State-5806@reddit
Follow the maintenance schedule that came with your car when it was new. If you don't have one, you can download them online. My car tells me when maintenance is due and what needs to be done. 2014 Honda Civic EX.
mandatoryclutchpedal@reddit
The ones listed in the owners manual/warranty and maintenance guides that sits in the glove box or on the manufacturers (not dealers) website.
The first and most important maintainance item is insuring the pages in the owners manual still contain the chart with dates and mileage each required item needs to be done. It's literally the least expensive maintenance task. Opening the book.
If you don't have the ability to read and instead demand all your info be provided by youtube/tik tok/ chatgpt
Then
Engine oil - depends on car but generally 5k to 10k or at least yearly.
Brake fluid - every 3 years or never depending on car and how far youbare away from me (color of fluid might work if you have emotional problems)
Coolant - Depends on car but if a German car the pump/thermostat failure will have you changing this regularly anyway.
Cabin filter - depends on your allergies. Every 2 to 4 years or whatever. Either change it your self in 2 minutes using a 20 dollar filter or pay a shop 200 to do the same thing then post your bill on reddit to be mocked.
Differential fluid - 3 years Limited slip differential fluid - whenever you read a post on reddit about someone switching to 20w50 liquid moly on a car that calls for 0w20, change your lsd fluid and cross off the letter 'l' on your bingo card.
Spark plugs - 100k unless German than either 20/40/60/80 depending on your bloat level
Engine air filter- When the mouse community evolves to a agricultural society, evict from air box and change the filter.
7and7is@reddit
this is a work of art.
MongooseProXC@reddit
Wiper fluid
rudbri93@reddit
Fuckin brake fluid. So neglected. Every 3 or so years.
Swamp_Donkey_7@reddit
I do mine every 2-3 years regardless of mileage and always notice a better/firmer pedal.
DMofTheTomb@reddit (OP)
Where would I get that done, and how much does it typically cost?
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
Or just drain/fll the reservoir 1x a year. It will mix fully in a short time and cut down on water and contamination. Very easy, costs a few dollars.
Frontier_Hobby@reddit
Yup! Every other oil change and the power steering too!!
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
Power steering is always overlooked, for those older cars or still with hydraulic ps. I do the res. Every 30k with the auto trans. Keeps it healthy.
rudbri93@reddit
Any decent shop can flush brake fluid, price depends on location
SummertimeThrowaway2@reddit
It’s also not hard to do yourself with a few youtube tutorials and a cheap brake flush kit from autozone or whatever parts store is nearby.
Jimmytootwo@reddit
I did mine at 100K
Was interesting, definitely got me a better pedal too
SummertimeThrowaway2@reddit
And now you know what a bad pedal feels like so if it ever gets spongy again you’ll know it’s time
SummertimeThrowaway2@reddit
(If you drive harder get them done earlier btw)
SuperSathanas@reddit
I like to occasionally just walk around the car, putting my hand near all four wheels, to see if any of them are radiating an unusual amount of heat. If any of them are, you may have a sticky caliper that you'd want to address pretty soon before you end up with toasted pads and rotors. A quick glance at the rotors themselves to check for any pitting or gouging doesn't hurt, either.
Any time you're doing some sort of routine maintenance, like brakes, oil, radiator flush, etc... go ahead and jack up the front and back, or corner by corner if you need to, and check for any play or wear in your wheels, steering and suspension components, and take a quick look for any weird, uneven tire wear while you're at it. Uneven tire wear may indicate that you need an alignment or you have a failing suspension or steering component.
Grab the top of the wheel, the bottom, the top and the bottom, grab it at 9 and 3, try to shake it and wobble it different ways. If it does shake or wobble more than any tiny, tiny amount, you might have a problem with bearings or other components.
Take that rim off and then go ahead and grab and try to pull and shake just about anything you can get your hands on: struts, CV axles, control arms, sway links, the sway bar itself, tie rods, etc... if anything has any amount of play, you may have some problems, possibly problems that you'd be able to notice while driving, so pay attention next time you're on the road. Look at the boots on the CV axles and the tie rod ends. If they're damaged, regrease and replace them PDQ before dirt and other bullshit can start causing damage, if it hasn't already. Look at ball joints and control arm bushings.
Look at the the struts and just the whole wheel well area in general. If you see oil residue mainly on the strut, it's likely your strut has failed or has just lost a lot of oil and gas over time, which is normal, but still may need to be addressed soon. You may or may not have noticed the difference in how the struts feel over time if they haven't failed, because they'd very slowly and gradually become more loose or floaty feeling.
If you see grease flung around in there, definitely check those axle boots again.
If you have a floor jack and a couple stands, doing a quick once-over on all 4 wheel wells takes like 15-20 minutes, you know, provided you find nothing obviously wrong.
Finally, just look down in the engine bay, and slide up under the car if you can, to look for any oil or other fluid leaks. I have a leak from my oil cooler, and I wouldn't have known it until it got worse if I hadn't slid up under the car to look for leaks while I was replacing struts and sway links.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
With 35s ball joints are a regular maintenance item lol
SetNo8186@reddit
Read the specific owners manual for maintenance on that vehicle. Its the guideline that is most ignored, yet specifies exactly what needs to be done.
Everyone needs to know it but almost nobody sits down and reads it, just drives it into the ground then complains it blew up mysteriously at the worst possible time. It's incredibly simple to exercise preventative maintenance yet seems to be a herculean task to perform - so few do it.
Why read the instructions? Random guesses by internet posters will not address the issues a specific car needs, there's 60 years of word of mouth out there and half of it is wrong. Of recent note, some have been asking here about changing the transmission fluid - yet makers are now sealing transmissions and you cant even check it - no dipstick. Some of those do not EVER change the fluid, it's lifetime.
You can't know what the specific maintenance is until the owner's manual is opened up and read directly.
SkylineFTW97@reddit
There's no such thing as lifetime fluid unless you're okay with a shorter lifespan as a consequence. Even "sealed" transmissions can be serviced, it's just more annoying to do so. You just have to find where the drain and fill/check plugs are. If you're lucky, it has a top or side fill plug, some companies like Ford and Volkswagen are fond of using bottom fill plugs. Those are very unintuitive and messy to refill.
ALWAYS change the transmission fluid. If the manual or dealer says not to, they are wrong. This goes for any fluid. Ford used to say the same about their PTUs (basically a transfer case) in their AWD cars. Funny how those also had a habit of failing because of it. Subaru does the same with its CVTs which also fail prematurely if that is practiced.
ElCaminoDelSud@reddit
Trans fluid!!! Most of the time it’s the same as an oil change. Drain, refill, done. Usually no filter too so less steps than oil change.
SkylineFTW97@reddit
Depends on the car for filters. For most Hondas that's generally true, although many have them. Honda service intervals are also shorter than most at 30k miles. You likely don't need to change filters very often if you abide by that, but doing so may be a gold idea if that wasn't done.
nobody38321@reddit
Blinker fluid should be changed once a year
JustAnotherDude1990@reddit
Opening the owners manual where it tells you everything that should be done.
AmbitiousScientist74@reddit
Just checking your manual will get you most if not all the info you need.
Oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, differential and or transfer case fluid(if equipped), air filter, cabin filter, brakes, spark plugs, belts, pcv valve.
It’s best to get familiar with your particular vehicle and know what it needs and at what intervals.
Necessary-Score-4270@reddit
I always suggest people pick up a Hayes or Chilton manual for their car. Videos are ok for guidance but having a book is S tier.
Quidegosumhic@reddit
Any fluids. Vehichle to vehicle is specific. Fluids and filters.
SummertimeThrowaway2@reddit
Tires. Everyone cares about their brakes yet neglect their tires. Brakes are useless with bad tires. Their expiration is 6 years, and less if you live in a hot climate.
Cultural_Bison_6306@reddit
Take an afternoon and detail your interior at least once a year. Humans are gross and we leave bits of ourselves everywhere. Accumulation of grime and environmental debris will destroy your interior over time.
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
This is under-rated. I do it spring and fall. I’ve got cars 20+ year old cars with 200, 300+k miles on them in the family and they look great.
agravain@reddit
everyone should know how to READ AND FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL THAT EVERY CAR HAS. follow the schedule, use the correct filters and fluids that it calls for and if the vehicle is under warranty, keep copies of EVERYTHING, until it's no longer in warranty.
mattkime@reddit
95% is in the manual. The other 5% is vehicle specific, often of concerns for high mileage vehicles and enthusiast groups will tell you what you need to know.