In the world of auto mobiles there is one thing in common no matter where you live, what the climate is or what kind of vehicle you own. Both lower end cost vehicles and expensive luxury cars need one thing and one thing only to assure they are safe to drive, reliable and enjoy long life – maintenance.
Since a car is actually nothing more than a machine, it needs servicing, maintenance and replacement of parts and fluids the same as any type of machine. The more a vehicle is maintained and serviced, according to the manufacturer, the longer it will last. In the not so distant past, cars were driven until they hit about 70K to 90K miles and they were replaced. They were pretty simple by today’s standards and built with materials that were not very sophisticated.   With today’s automobiles that are properly maintained and serviced, coupled with tight production specifications – useful life of a vehicle can extend 10-15 years easily depending on how many miles a year it’s driven but only if it is serviced regularly during its lifetime.
Servicing can take on many forms such as washing the vehicle, changing the oil, putting new belts on the engine or even replacing worn foot mats – all are service related tasks. It is important to pay special attention to the safety components of the engine that powers it, the transmission that moves it and the brakes that stop it. Each of these “systems” provides a vehicle that is not only safe on the road but safe for the occupants in the vehicle.
The easiest way to determine what is to be serviced and at what intervals is simply to refer to the owner’s manual. The manual is provided with every vehicle and was written by the manufacturer with consideration for such things as the engine, the fluids used in the engine, the brakes etc. If you don’t have the actual owner’s manual, thanks to the internet, it is probably only a click away. If not a call to the nearest dealership that sell s your make of vehicle (Chevrolet, Toyota, Subaru etc.) is the next best way to obtain one.
Located in the manual will be the “Recommended service” for the vehicle. It will list service requirements for such things as fluid changes (oil fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant fluid, transmission fluids etc.), filter changes, windshield wiper changes and on and on. Also, it is important to remember that even though a vehicle is not driven often it still needs to be maintained. For instance, a vehicle driven 3000 miles a year should not wait two years for an oil change. It is recommended that oil be changed every 3 months or every 4-6000 miles, whichever comes first. Fluids age and they break down with time so their ability to do their job diminishes as they age.
The best way to have a reliable, safe, and long lasting vehicle is maintenance.  It’s the easiest way to get the most out of your car and the cheapest thing to do in the long run.