Teen Drivers: 7 Most Important Car Maintenance Services

As a new driver, there’s a good chance that this is your first experience owning a vehicle. The ability to go where you want to is the ultimate freedom. But to make sure your ride stays smooth and free from mechanical failure, your vehicle needs regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best.

Here are our seven tried and true maintenance recommendations.

Rotate Tires & Check Air Pressure

Your tires are quite possibly the most important factor in how your car drives on the road. Making sure that your tires are properly inflated and routinely rotated are critical to your driving comfort.

It’s a good idea to rotate your tires every time you have the oil changed. (Check your owner’s manual for how often that should occur.)

Just as important is making sure that tires have the proper amount of tread. You never want to risk a blowout from worn out tires. Check your tires regularly!

Change the Oil Regularly

Your vehicle needs oil to keep the engine running optimally. However, over time, engine oil gets dirty and must be changed. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended time for servicing your oil.

Check Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are critical to your visibility in inclement weather. Old, worn out blades leave windshield streaks and, if bad enough, can scratch your windshield.

Once a month, test your wiper blades by spritzing your windshield. If you see streaks, it’s time to replace them!

Check Belts & Hoses

Timing belts, air hoses, and serpentine belts usually list up to 60,000 miles. Check them for safety’s sake! A broken timing belt can destroy your engine. Even a small leak in a hose can wreak havoc. Be proactive.

Check the Air Filter

The air filter removes debris that’s pumped from the engine. The more miles you rack up on your car, the more the air filter will become inundated with debris. Consider changing the air filter every 15,000-20,000 miles.

If you drive a lot of dusty roads or live in an area with poor air quality, you may need to replace the air filter sooner rather than later. A good rule of thumb is to check your air filter every time you change your oil.

Replace Worn Down Brake Pads

Most vehicles now use disc brakes. These are ceramic pads that press against a metal disc which causes the car to stop. Because ceramic brake pad wear down with time, it’s a good idea to check them regularly for wear.

A good time to do this is when you get the tires rotated.

Check Battery Charge

The last thing you need is for a worn out battery to leave you stranded somewhere. Most battery warranties promote that they will last five to six years. But, it’s not uncommon for them to wear out in three years.

Bottom line. Check your battery charge when you get your oil changed.

Bonus maintenance tip: Check your spark plugs. They need replacing every 60,000-75,000 miles. If even one spark plug doesn’t function properly, your engine will have to work harder, and that’s not good.

Getting spark plugs checked and dying ones replaced will lengthen the life of your vehicle.

If you want the pros to handle your car maintenance, turn to the certified GM certified technicians at the service department of Joe Bowman Auto Plaza. Our techs work on all makes and models of vehicles every day.

Our technicians will do a multi-point inspection, thoroughly assessing your vehicle using a simple color-coded key system. With our techs, we’re your partner in keeping your vehicle in topnotch condition!

Learn more about Joe Bowman Auto Plaza here.