Routine maintenance for your car is essential to make sure that it lasts a long time. It would be nice if we never had to do anything to keep the car running. That, sadly, is not the case as it needs to have repairs and adjustments regularly throughout the life of the car. When you understand what needs to be done then it will help keep your car out of the mechanic’s shop, too. 



There are a lot of little things to change when they end up going bad and you can’t start your car, such as the battery. The best car batteries will last longer now so you will need to change them less frequently. Other things are a bit more complex and you won’t know they aren’t in good shape until you change them. In this article, we will go over how to maintain your car to get the most out of it. 

1 - The timing belt

One of the most important parts of the car is the timing belt. It is what keeps all of the engine parts running since it is a belt that rotates the parts of the engine in sync with each other. Unfortunately, it is also very fragile as it is made out of rubber. It is only able to last for up to 100,000 miles in most cars and in some, it is even less than that.

You’ll need to look in your owner’s manual when the belt needs to be changed so that you aren’t at risk of it breaking if it gets old. If it does break then your engine is ruined and you either need a new car or a completely new engine. 

Putting all of the regular repairs on a spreadsheet and setting a reminder will help you avoid forgetting about when the timing belt and other repairs need to happen. 

2 - The brake pads

Brakes are also essential to the safe operation of the car and wear down quite quickly. This means that you have to pay special attention to when the brake pads need to be changed. If you don’t change them in time, they will wear down to the point that the caliper will be exposed and that will ruin the brake disc which is a much more expensive repair than just changing the pads. 

You can change the brake pads yourself and save a lot of money if you feel up to learning a new skill. 

3 - Fluids and filters

When filters get full they will prevent the efficient function of the car. There is an air filter and an oil filter that need to be changed regularly so that the car runs at its peak. There are also a lot of fluids that need to be changed. Over time the molecular structure of the fluids breaks down and they are less effective. 

Make sure to change your oil on time and check that the brake fluid and others are always full.