Your car starts and runs every day thanks to your efforts to maintain it. Here is a basic maintenance checklist, you can find the instruction for your car in the owner's manual.
Many cars normally consume some amount of engine oil between oil changes. Driving low on oil can cause problems. Most cars will not show any warning if the oil level is low in the engine. It's good idea to check the engine oil level with the dipstick at least once a month.
The oil dipstick has a bright handle that says "Engine Oil"
How to check the oil level: Warm up the engine. Park your vehicle on a level spot. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in Park. Turn the engine OFF. Wait for a minute to let engine oil flow down into the oil pan.
Careful, the dipstick might be hot
How to read the oil dipstick
The oil level should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks, or within the cross section. If the level is low, top it up; see how below.
Check the oil condition: If the oil is dirty and low, have the oil change done or at least top up the level. If it's more or less clean but low, top it up. If the level is OK and the oil is not too dirty, good job, keep driving.
Check the oil grade on the oil filler cap
Use a funnel if needed. Wipe the spill with a towel.
Open the oil filler cap and add a small amount of oil. Wait for a minute to let oil pour down into the oil pan. Check the oil level again with the dipstick.
Check the battery condition visually.
Check the battery condition visually. Look at the battery terminals; they should not be loose or corroded. See the photos.
Corrosion or loose connection at the battery terminals can result in a no-start, Check Engine light, lack of electric power steering assist and many other problems.
You may find tips on how to clean the battery terminals in your vehicle's owner's manual. Here are some YouTube videos on the subject. Be careful, that white flaky corrosion stuff on the battery is very acidic. Servicing battery terminals in a repair shop costs from $30 to $55.
Corroded battery terminals will cause problems.
If your engine turns over slower than before, or you need to boost your car to start several times, these are the signs that your battery is getting weak.
Low coolant level.
Many expensive engine repairs, such as blown head gaskets are caused by overheating. The cooling system keeps the engine temperature in check, but to work properly it needs to have enough coolant.
Visually check the engine coolant (antifreeze) level in the overflow tank. The owner's manual has instructions. The level should be between the "Low" and "Full" or "Min" and "Max" marks.
Caution, don't open the radiator cap or the pressurized overflow tank cap when the engine is hot! The cooling system is under pressure when hot.
Low coolant level can also cause the heater to blow cold air from the vents. Some amount of coolant normally evaporates as you drive. If the coolant level is just a bit lower, as in the photo, it needs to be topped up, using the right type of coolant. Check your owner's manual for safety precautions and the proper way to do it.
If the coolant level is very low or there is a smell of coolant or signs of leaks under the hood, have the cooling system pressure tested for possible leaks. If there is a leak, it must be repaired before a lack of coolant caused the engine to overheat.
Brake fluid level.
Visually check the brake fluid level in the brake fluid bottle; check the owner's manual for the location and instructions. The level should be between "Min" and "Max" marks.
Power Steering Fluid Level.
If your vehicle has hydraulic power steering, it uses the power steering fluid (Cars with electric power steering don't have it). You can check the power steering fluid in the reservoir under the hood.
Many modern cars no longer have a transmission dipstick. In this case, a mechanic at your local dealership can still check your transmission fluid. If your car does have a transmission dipstick, you can find the procedure in the owners manual. It's different for different cars. This is how it's done in this Toyota and many other cars:
This Toyota Corolla does have a transmission dipstick
Wipe it off, using a clean lint-free towel
The level and fluid condition is OK
Transmission fluid expands when warmed up, so if the car has been driven for 20-30 minutes, the transmission level should be between the "HOT" marks.
If the transmission fluid level is low, suspect a leak and have it checked out. See this example of a transmission fluid leak. Check the fluid condition: if the fluid looks very dirty or has a burnt smell, see if your mechanic recommends changing it.
New versus dirty air filter.
The engine air filter keeps the air entering the engine clean, but over time the filter gets dirty and restricts the air flow. The engine air filter is recommended to be replaced every 15,000-25,000 miles or 24,000-40,000 km, depending on the roads you drive on.
Replacing an air filter in the repair shop costs $35-$50.
If you want to check or replace the air filter yourself, on most cars and trucks it's fairly easy. Your owner's manual has directions or you can find instructions on YouTube. It's best to use an original air filter that you can buy at your local dealership parts department; it costs around $20-$30.
Top up your windshield washer fluid
Top up the windshield washer fluid. In winter, use only the windshield washer fluid graded for cold temperatures.
In this car, the coolant (green) was leaking out of the radiator
Timely leak repairs can save a lot of money and keep your car safe. Look for signs of leaks under the hood and on the parking spot.
Replace the wipers if they don't clean well.
Check your lights regularly
The proper tire pressure for this car is 35 psi.
This tire is worn out below the limit of 2/32", it's unsafe to drive
There is a safe limit of the tire tread wear. If the tire is worn below this limit, it's unsafe to drive. Your owner's manual has the directions on how to measure the tire tread wear or your mechanic can check your tires for you. This tire in the photo is unsafe.
How do you know that your tires are close to the minimum limit? Tires have wear bars (indicators) molded into the tread. See this photo of a new versus worn-out tire. You can also check the tread with a tire tread gauge.
For your safety, we recommend having your car inspected regularly, at least once a year, by a trusted mechanic. We mean not just a quick visual inspection by one of the drive-through fast lube places, but a mechanic that can lift your car and check major components such as brakes, suspension, etc. This is because many components (e.g. ball joints, tie rods, sway bar links) cannot be inspected visually.
