Car Maintenance Checklist | Car Safety Tips

Car Maintenance Checklist – Routine Safety Tips to Protect Your Family
There is a simple car maintenance checklist you can do to ensure your car is safe to drive. Begin by actually “listening” to your car. Pay attention to any unusual sounds that your car may be making. And be sure to make note of any unusual smells, hesitations in acceleration, or if your car is pulling toward one direction while driving. More specifically, here is a brief car maintenance checklist that will help you keep you, your family, and your car on the road.
Car Maintenance Checklist – Tip #1: Change Your Oil
Keeping up with routine oil changes for your car and regularly checking its oil level is item #1 on our car maintenance checklist because the quality and level of your oil is critical to keeping your engine running properly. Changing your engine oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles is a best practice.
It is not unusual for the oil level to go down if you’re pulling heavy loads or are frequently stuck in traffic doing a lot of stop-and-go driving. Check your oil levels at least once a month to ensure your car always has the proper amount of oil to safely operate. Safety is key.
It is best to check the oil level when your engine is still warm. Open the hood of your car and look for the dipstick, which will be likely labeled “oil”. Pull it out and wipe it off with a rag. Dip it back in then pull it out and check the end of the dipstick a second time. The oil level should be between the marker lines on the dipstick. If the oil is black or dirty looking, it is likely time to have your oil changed.
Car Maintenance Checklist – Tip #2: Check Your Transmission Fluid
Checking the transmission fluid level is item #2 on our car maintenance checklist especially if your car is experiencing problems shifting gears. Similar to checking your oil, if the levels are low it could indicate a leak. Observe good safety habits when checking your transmission fluid by ensure your car is in “Park” and put some chocks behind the back wheels/tires.
When examining transmission fluid, check to see if it has a slight pink tint. The fluid should not be blackish-brown. If it is, be sure to check if the fluid smells burnt. If you detect a burnt odor, be sure to schedule an appointment with your service technician.
If the fluid levels are low, refill it with the transmission fluid that is recommended for your particular car to ensure safety. Check your driveway, or the road you park your car, for transmission fluid residue that may have leaked from your car. If there are signs of a leak, have your service technician take a look at your car right away.
Safety tips: make sure you clean up any transmission fluid that has leaked or spilled on the ground. Dogs and cats like the sweet smell, however, the fluid is toxic.
Car Maintenance Checklist – Tip #3: Check Your Coolant Protection
Next up on our checklist is your coolant level. Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water designed to regulate the temperature throughout the engine via the radiator. Your coolant should be changed and flushed approximately every two years.
Safety tips: never check your coolant level when your car is hot. Wait several hours for your car to cool down because loosening your radiator cap while your car is hot could cause the coolant to spray due to pressure buildup within the radiator.
Newer cars usually have a reservoir placed to the right of the engine. If the coolant levels are good, the liquid is clear, not cloudy, or brown. In addition, always make sure your radiator is free of corrosion.
Car Maintenance Checklist – Tip #4: Inspect Your Tires
We added tire inspection to this car maintenance checklist because your tires are the only thing connecting your car to the road. Always make sure your tire air pressure is at the specified PSI (pounds per square inch). You can find the required tire pressure rating usually in your owner’s manual. Under or over-inflated tires can prematurely wear the tread of your tires, which will mean replacements are necessary potentially much sooner than expected. If you have found uneven wear on your tires, you should consider rotating your tires more frequently than recommended and have your alignment checked.
Car Maintenance Checklist – Tip #5: Clean and Inspect Your Car Battery
Making sure your battery terminals are free of corrosion is the final tip on this car maintenance checklist. If corrosion is present on your terminals, you can scrub it off with a wire brush and a mixture of baking soda and water.
Safety tips: before you perform any maintenance on your battery, you must disconnect the terminals to ensure your safety. And be sure to check for any cracks or bulges in the battery case. These are indications that you need a new car battery.
This car maintenance checklist is more than just periodic maintenance recommendations for your car. In actuality, this checklist is also a series of car safety tips that will help keep your car in good condition for safe driving all year long.