What is the Best Auto Maintenance or Car Service Schedule?

Auto maintenance is essential for any vehicle. Today’s post reviews service recommendations by the Automobile Protection Association, along with the handy TIRECRAFT service chart, to help you keep your car service schedule on-track.

Auto Maintenance Matters for Vehicle Value and Reliability

“How does a vehicle that used to be reliable become unreliable?” asks the Automobile Protection Association.

While some car parts and components are bound to deteriorate over time, the main cause almost always comes down to owner neglect. Fortunately, this is completely within your control—and thus, to some degree, so too is your vehicle’s value, reliability and lifespan.

APA research bears that claim out. In surveys of long-time car owners with high satisfaction ratings regarding vehicle reliability, the APA identified the following common practices:

• Frequent oil changes
• Frequent filter changes
• High level of involvement with the vehicle (i.e. “regular client of the same service facility” and “regular spring and fall preparation”)
• Tendency to fix problems early, and listen/watch for signs of wear and tear

So what’s the bottom line? Investing in regular auto maintenance and car service pays off. For best results, we encourage you to read over the following auto maintenance/car service guidelines.

TIRECRAFT’s Auto Maintenance/Car Service Recommendations

Following this basic auto maintenance schedule will help you get the most out of your vehicle:

• Every 5,000km or 3 months—Book a car service and oil change.
• Every 10,000km or 6 months—Book a tire rotation in addition to your standard car service and oil change.
• Every 20,000km or 12 months—Book a wheel balance, tire alignment, and brake inspection, in addition to your standard car service, oil change, and tire rotation.
• Every 40,000km or 24 months—Book cooling system maintenance service, engine service, and transmission service in addition to your standard car service, oil change, tire rotation, wheel balance, tire alignment, and brake inspection.

You can view the full service chart on the TIRECRAFT Auto Repair page.

Additionally, the Automobile Protection Association recommends:

• Replacing conventional green antifreeze at 2-3 year intervals, and pink long-life antifreeze at intervals recommended by the manufacturer.
• Inspecting brakes, suspension, and steering at least once a year for vehicles less than 3 years old, and 2-3 times per year for older vehicles.
• Inspecting disc brakes and caliper guide pins to ensure they’re moving freely at least once per year. This is included as part of every TIRECRAFT brake system service (recommended every 20,000km or 12 months), but may be sold as a separate service at other auto shops.
• Inspecting rubber boots covering driveshaft CV joints at every oil change. TIRECRAFT includes this as part of every oil change, recommended after every 5,000km or 3 months of driving, but you may need to request this inspection at some shops.
• Replacing the cabin air filter every 1-3 years.

Book Trustworthy Auto Maintenance Services at TIRECRAFT

TIRECRAFT is one of Canada’s only true one-stop shops for automotive health, offering an unparalleled selection of parts, accessories, tires, and repair services under one roof.

To save time and money on your next auto maintenance service, find a TIRECRAFT near you. With more than 220 locations across the country, help is probably closer than you think!

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