Monthly Vehicle Maintenance

No, that is not technically my car.  It's the housekeeping truck, Whitey, which is ancient and has a number of problems including water in the oil.  Now I know more about it than I've known about any vehicle in my life.

A few days ago, inspired by a handy coworker (see above) and my computer maintenance checklist, for my "thing of the day," I learned how to go through a basic monthly maintenance check on a car with Rucker.

Here's a summary of what we went over and a few things I learned along the way. My notes are in italics.

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Vehicle Maintenance Report
Always check owner's manual before adding fluids to make sure you use the right kind!

Vehicle ______________
Date ________________
Mileage ______________

Oil Level - Check and refill if necessary
Change your oil every 3000 miles or every 3-6 months.  Since front tires take on more wear than back tires, rotate your tires every other oil change.

Coolant - Add more if low
Fill to between min and max line.


Transmission Fluid - Add more if low

Fluid starts red and becomes more brown through time.  Generally you should change the fluid and filter around 100K miles.  Take it into a shop -- transmission fluid is finicky. Always check transmission fluid while car is running.

Power Steering Fluid - Add more if low
The power steering fluid cap looks like a bottle cap (in case it's not well labeled.)  The car will either take ATF or Power Steering Fluid.  Check the owner's manual.


Brake Fluid - Add more if low

Always located near the back on the driver's side.

Wiper Fluid - Add more if low


Belts - Replace if worn, frayed, or glazed
Look for cracks on the ribbed side of the belt where it bends.  Car will often squeak if belts are loose or bed.  Cars have either one or two belts.


Hoses - Replace if bulging or brittle

Make sure to to check the ends of hoses for coolant leaks, etc.

Tires - Add air if low (<32 p="" psi="">           Inspect for damage, bulges, uneven wear
Check driver's door for PSI and tire size.  Look for uneven wear on rear v front tires.  Also check for any signs of dry rot.


Shocks - Inspect for oil leaks and wear

These are vertical, cylindrical parts underneath the car near the tires.

Battery Terminals - Clean if corroded
Batteries generally have approx 5 years of life.  Corrosion looks white and powdery.  Scrape or brush off with a hard metal brush, making sure not to touch metal with a wrench if it's attached to the +/red/"hot" terminal.  Batteries can die because of old age, being run down by leaving lights on etc., or being attached to a bad alternator.  The alternator charges the battery.   If your battery keeps dying and is relatively new, it may be an alternator problem.  Get it checked out.


Wiper Blades- Replace if worn or brittle