Making sure that your car stays at its optimal level of operation is about having regular maintenance performed on your vehicle. However, there are so many parts that need periodic checkups that it may be difficult to know what to check or change and when. It is helpful, however, simply to look at the various systems that make a car run.
You're probably pretty familiar with the things you need to do to keep the engine running smoothly, like changing the oil every 3,000 miles or three months. In addition, you should change the oil filter, air filter and fuel filter regularly. Keep an eye on your spark plugs and accompanying wires, as well as the PCV valve.
Most things simply need to be checked regularly because they shouldn't be breaking down, at least not unless your car is very old. Systems like the transmission and the emission system need a yearly checkup.
Your brake system, however, may need more regular attention. If anything strange appears to be happening with your brakes (you should be able to tell if they don't "feel" right), then you should have them checked by a professional. For instance, there could be air in the hydraulic system or an imbalance.
The brake pads will also need changing from time to time. You can tell if your brakes begin squealing or grinding, creating metal-on-metal sounds. This system should also be inspected regularly to prevent major breakdowns at inconvenient times, such as when you seem to be careening at a high speed into another vehicle.
A car's climate control system may actually be working year-round in some areas, so it is important that you have yours inspected regularly, even if you live in a climate where it is not necessary to use the heater or the air conditioner much. While the car's climate control system works to keep you cool, the cooling system keeps the engine itself cool, which is very, very important to the life of your car. Your engine has a lot of moving metal parts that are difficult to keep cool.
However, car engines are technological wonders, using fans and liquids to keep the engine from catching fire, blowing up, or just heaving a big sigh and quitting. The cooling system is best cared for by checking the coolant levels in the reservoirs and checking the wear and tear on hoses. In addition, ask your mechanic regularly to flush your cooling system to replace the dirty coolant with clean fluid.
The final system to keep an eye on is the suspension system, which is the shocks, springs and struts, as well as the steering and tires. One interesting thing about this system is that your tires can act as a monitor for the rest of the suspension system. For instance, heavy wear on one edge of your tires can signal an alignment problem and the need for maintenance.
Thinking about all the hundreds of parts in your car in terms of systems makes keeping a maintenance schedule much easier. Having a regular maintenance schedule can help prevent the necessity of costly repairs.
