Engine Fluids

There are 3 main fluids that keep engines running which include oil, coolant, and transmission fluid. The oil for all engines keeps the internal moving parts lubricated to ensure longevity and should generally be changed every 5-7 thousand miles with the proper viscosity rating. As it implies in the name, coolant runs through the engine block by a water pump and works to cool down engine temperature while doing so. Coolant should generally be changed every 2 years or 30 thousand miles. Transmission fluid lubricates all the internal gears that are responsible for turning combustion energy into motion. This oily fluid should generally be changed every 30-60 thousand miles. Coolant and transmission fluid don’t need to be changed as often so it would be a good idea to get both replaced at the same time in order to keep track of the maintenance records more easily.

 

Belts and Pulleys

A pulley is a wheel with grooves in its outer edge which is sized to fit a rubber belt. The serpentine belt is a reinforced rubber belt with ribs on the inner side of it. It’s driven by the crankshaft and sends power to the alternator and water pump. Both belts and pulleys generally only need to be replaced when they go bad and don’t need to be fixed on a recurring schedule. Bad pulleys make an iconic squealing sound upon start-up and only get worse if ignored. Since serpentine belts are rubber they can be visually inspected for cracks and wear.

Spark Plugs and Ignition Coils

Spark plugs give the electric spark within the engine block that produces combustion when combined with fuel and air. The ignition coil connects to the top end of the spark plug and sends an electric pulse with the correct timing. Spark plugs should generally be changed in a 30-thousand-mile time cycle, though there are higher-quality spark plugs that can last about 100 thousand miles. Replacing both ignition coils and spark plugs at the same time may be a good idea.

Brakes

Brake systems consist of the pads and rotors. Similar to how brakes look on a bicycle, there is a brake pad on either side of the rotor that are squeezed together when the driver applies pressure to the brake pedal. This causes both components to wear down over time. Luckily brake pads are made with a piece of metal to indicate when it’s time for a replacement. This indication is the brake squeal you hear when they’re nearing the end of their life. Rotors are built to withstand higher temperatures and thus will need replacement less often than pads. Generally lasting 2-3 sets of pads before getting worn down enough for replacement. Brake fluid is the link between the brake pedal to the brake pads and should be replaced when your brake pedal starts to have a softer, mushy feeling.

Tires

Tires are arguably the most important thing to regularly maintenance and it shows when road conditions are bad. This is because tires are the main contact point between your car and the road. The tread is the part of the tire that actually makes contact with the road surface. There are many tread patterns across all brands for different purposes. The link from bridgestonetire.com in the “Related Articles” on the right provides information on how you can measure the life of the tire to ensure a timely replacement. It’s also important to rotate your tires in regular intervals. The pattern to rotate them is based on whether your car is powered by the front, rear, or all wheels.

 

 

 

 

 

Air Filter

Engines require air, fuel, and a spark in order to combust. Air filters protect the engine from sucking in any kind of debris that could cause great damage if it gets inside. Cabin air filters filter out the air that comes through the vents inside the car. Cabin air filters are often ignored and can build up a lot of debris when this happens. Air filters are easily accessible and can be found on the left, right, or both sides of the engine bay depending on the engine. This should be replaced as needed depending on how dirty it looks upon inspection.

(Aftermarket air filter)

(Cabin air filter)