Modern cars, trucks and SUVs are designed to last thousands and thousands of miles. With so many moving parts, it's important to stay on top of some basic maintenance to keep things running smoothly.
Scheduled Maintenance Based on Time
Scheduled Maintenance Based on Mileage
Scheduled Maintenance Based on Manufacturer Specifications or Physical Condition
Check Your Engine Oil Level
Your oil level should stay fairly consistent unless your vehicle is burning or leaking oil. Keeping an eye on it will let you know if one of these issues is present, and will help you prevent the level from getting too low, which can cause further damage to the engine.
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Do It Right: Check out our page on How To: Check and Fill Your Vehicle’s Motor Oil |
Check Your Tire Pressure
Tire pressure can fluctuate quite a bit, and has an impact on both your fuel economy and the longevity of your tires. You can usually find the ideal tire pressure recommendation on a label on the driver’s door or door jamb, or in your owner’s manual. If the tires have been changed, you’ll find the recommended pressure on the tires themselves. Get your tire pressure gauge here.
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Do It Right: Check out our page on How To: Check Your Tire Pressure |
Clean Your Battery Terminals
When you check your battery terminals, you’re making sure the cables are tightened securely on the posts of the battery so there’s no movement, and that there’s no corrosion there. If you happen to find corrosion, we sell battery cleaners as well as treated washers that help prevent the corrosion from returning.
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Do It Right: Check out our video on How To: Care for Your Automotive Battery |
Clean Your Vehicle
Cleaning your vehicle inside and out won’t help it run any better, but it will make the drive a little more enjoyable and protect resale value for when it’s time to sell. Using car wash and waxing the exterior protects the clearcoat and overall appearance of the vehicle, and cleaning your interior helps prevent dirt and moisture from becoming smells and stains. We have all the cleaners and accessories you need to get your vehicle looking brand new.
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Do It Right: Check out our page on How To: Guide for Washing Your Car |
Inspect and Replace Old Wiper Blades
Wiper blades should be changed any time they show signs of streaking, splitting, chattering or smearing, but if you wait till you see any of these signs, you’ve waited too long. To ensure visibility year-round, it’s recommended you change your blades twice a year so they’re dependable when you need them most.
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Do It Right: Check out our resources on When to Replace Wiper Blades, How to Install Wiper Blades, and learn more about Free Wiper Installation at O'Reilly Auto Parts. |
Test Your Battery, Alternator, and Starter
O’Reilly Auto Parts tests batteries, alternators and starters for free. Letting us take a quick look at these components for you before summer and winter will help ensure your vehicle has the power to keep running when temperatures are at their most extreme.
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Do It Right: Learn more about Free Battery Testing and Free Alternator and Starter Testing at O'Reilly Auto Parts. |
Motor Oil and Filter
Changing your oil and oil filter is one of the most essential maintenance tasks of them all, and was traditionally a job that was done every three thousand miles. With the introduction of full synthetic oils and blends, it’s now possible to go five thousand miles or more between oil changes, depending on the vehicle and the motor oil and filter you choose.
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Do It Right: Learn how to change your motor oil and oil filter with our How-To Resources. |
Essential Fluids
Since your oil changes will happen at regular intervals, use each one as a reminder to check other essential fluid levels in your vehicle: coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid.
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Do It Right: Check out our page on How To: Check and Fill Your Vehicle’s Fluids. |
Rotate Your Tires
Rotating your tires falls into a similar timeframe. If you rotate them every five to seven thousand miles, it will extend their life by helping the tread wear more evenly. It’s a good idea to check the tread of your tires with each tire rotation.
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Do It Right: Check out our How-To resources to learn how to rotate your tires. |
Check Transmission Fluid
Some vehicles have transmission fluid that can’t be checked, but for those that have a dipstick, it’s recommended you check the level every thirty thousand to a hundred thousand miles, depending on the manufacturer. Rear differential fluid should be changed every thirty thousand to sixty thousand miles, and consider flushing your brake fluid at thirty thousand.
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Do It Right: Check out our video on How To: Check and Fill Your Vehicle’s Fluids. |
Serpentine Belts and Shocks
Every fifty thousand miles, your serpentine belt and shocks and struts should be inspected.
Your serpentine belt is essential in order for your vehicle to run, so replacing it every fifty thousand miles will help you avoid an unwanted breakdown. The mileage is particularly important to keep track of for these belts because it’s difficult to determine how worn they are by visually inspecting them.
In a similar way, shocks and struts typically wear out so gradually that you wouldn’t notice a difference in your vehicle’s stability, braking or steering, even though those are the main three areas that will be affected as shocks and struts eventually break down.
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Do It Right: Check out our page on Changing Your Vehicle’s Serpentine Belt and page on How To: Replace Rear Shock Absorbers. |
Hoses and Spark Plug Wires
While the lifespan of spark plugs will vary, spark plug wires typically last sixty to seventy thousand miles. Depending on the type of plugs in your vehicle, you may want to change your spark plugs and wires at the same time. If they’re worn out, replacing them can bring some pep back to an engine that doesn’t feel as energetic as it used to.
It’s hard to tell by looking at your hoses if they’re damaged or worn, so they should be changed at about sixty to seventy thousand miles. Because they could have bulges or spots that are soft or turning brittle, and these could lead to leaks that would allow the engine to overheat, it’s best to keep track and replace them at this interval.
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Do It Right: Check out our resources on How to Check, Set Gap & Replace Spark Plugs and How to: Replace Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses. |
Timing Belt
The timing belt is essential in order for your vehicle to run. If it breaks, your engine will fail to operate, so changing it every hundred thousand miles is standard practice. You might also consider replacing your water pump and any pulleys and tensioners for a complete repair.
Inspect Your Braking System
The lifespan of your brakes can depend on the materials they’re made of, the type of driving you do, the environment you drive in and the type of load you typically carry in or behind your vehicle. If you notice: a brake light on your dash; a brake pedal that’s excessively hard or that’s spongy and soft when you step on it; squealing, shuddering or pulling to one side when braking, your brakes need attention. Your brake system has several components that can wear out, and each presents specific symptoms.
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Do It Right: Check out our How-To Hub for Braking System Basics. |
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs can be made with copper, platinum or iridium. These materials make a significant difference in the performance and amount of mileage you’ll get out them, so pay attention to the lifespan that’s indicated by the manufacturer of the plugs each time you change them, so you’ll know when to replace them again.
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Do It Right: Check out our How-To Hub to learn how to select the right spark plugs. |
Various Filters
Air filters, cabin air filters and fuel filters should be replaced at the interval recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, since you may or may not notice the symptoms of a dirty filter.
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Do It Right: Check out our How-to pages on Air Filter Replacement, Cabin Air Filter Replacement, and Fuel Filter Replacement. |
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Do It Right: O’Reilly Auto Parts carries the parts, tools, fluids and accessories you need to stay on top of these basic maintenance items. We’ve also compiled a library of How To videos to show you the procedures. |