Routine Maintenance Extends Your Car’s Life

You’ll get more life out of your car if you simply pay attention to its fluids on a regular basis, according to Dave Kusa, owner of Autotrend Diagnostics, a Diamond Certified company. Oil changes are recommended every 3,000 miles, even if the manufacturer says you can go 5,000 miles between changes. Ignore the owner’s manual.

Every 30,000 miles, ask to have the transmission fluid and power steering fluid changed and the cooling system serviced. Brake fluid flushes for anti-lock systems are now recommended too. Some cars even have computer systems that will tell you when to replace fluids based on the use of the car. What about rotating your tires? Mr. Kusa says if your tire dealer offers free rotation every 5,000 miles, do it. But if you have to pay for it every time, have it done only when the brakes are being inspected since the wheels are off the vehicle anyway.