Basic 12-point Car Maintenance Checklist with Photos

Your car starts and runs every day thanks to your efforts to maintain it. Here is a basic maintenance checklist, you can find the instruction for your car in the owner's manual.

1. Check the Engine Oil (level and condition)

Many cars normally consume some amount of engine oil between oil changes. Driving low on oil can cause problems. Most cars will not show any warning if the oil level is low in the engine. It's good idea to check the engine oil level with the dipstick at least once a month.

The oil dipstick has a bright handle that says "Engine Oil" How to check the oil level: Warm up the engine. Park your vehicle on a level spot. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in Park. Turn the engine OFF. Wait for a minute to let engine oil flow down into the oil pan. Open the hood and find the engine oil dipstick, it has a bright handle saying "Engine Oil". Be careful, the engine is hot. The owner's manual for your car has the instructions and the map of the engine compartment in the Maintenance Section of your car's owner's manual.

Careful, the dipstick might be hot Pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a clean towel. Insert it back until the dipstick is fully seated. Pull it out again and check the oil level.

How to read the oil dipstick The oil level should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks, or within the cross section. If the level is low, top it up; see how below. Check the oil condition: If the oil is dirty and low, have the oil change done or at least top up the level. If it's more or less clean but low, top it up. If the level is OK and the oil is not too dirty, good job, keep driving. Of course, in a diesel or turbocharged gasoline engine, even fairly fresh oil will look dark soon after the oil change.

How to top up engine oil

Check the oil grade on the oil filler cap To top up engine oil, use the recommended oil grade. The most common oil grades are 0W-20, 5W-20 and 5W-30. You can find it in your owner's manual, or on the oil filler cap. If your engine needs synthetic oil, use only synthetic oil.

Use a funnel if needed. Wipe the spill with a towel. Open the oil filler cap and add a small amount of oil. Wait for a minute to let oil pour down into the oil pan. Check the oil level again with the dipstick. If it's still low, add some more, but don't overfill it. Don't forget to install the dipstick back and close the oil filler cap when you are done.

2. Visually Check the Battery

Check the battery condition visually. Check the battery condition visually. Look at the battery terminals; they should not be loose or corroded. See the photos. Corrosion or loose connection at the battery terminals can result in a no-start, Check Engine light, lack of electric power steering assist and many other problems. You may find tips on how to clean the battery terminals in your vehicle's owner's manual. Here are some YouTube videos on the subject. Be careful, that white flaky corrosion stuff on the battery is very acidic. Servicing battery terminals in a repair shop costs from $30 to $55. Corroded battery terminals will cause problems. If your engine turns over slower than before, or you need to boost your car to start several times, these are the signs that your battery is getting weak. Your mechanic can do a battery test to check its capacity. If your battery is more than 5 years old, and you notice that it's getting weaker, it might be a good idea to just replace it.

3. Check Engine Coolant (Antifreeze)

Low coolant level. Many expensive engine repairs, such as blown head gaskets are caused by overheating. The cooling system keeps the engine temperature in check, but to work properly it needs to have enough coolant. Visually check the engine coolant (antifreeze) level in the overflow tank. The owner's manual has instructions. The level should be between the "Low" and "Full" or "Min" and "Max" marks. Caution, don't open the radiator cap or the pressurized overflow tank cap when the engine is hot! The cooling system is under pressure when hot. Low coolant level can also cause the heater to blow cold air from the vents. Some amount of coolant normally evaporates as you drive. If the coolant level is just a bit lower, as in the photo, it needs to be topped up, using the right type of coolant. Check your owner's manual for safety precautions and the proper way to do it. If the coolant level is very low or there is a smell of coolant or signs of leaks under the hood, have the cooling system pressure tested for possible leaks. If there is a leak, it must be repaired before a lack of coolant caused the engine to overheat. Tip: whenever you take your car to the dealer for servicing, ask to top up the coolant.

4. Check Brake Fluid Level

Brake fluid level. Visually check the brake fluid level in the brake fluid bottle; check the owner's manual for the location and instructions. The level should be between "Min" and "Max" marks. If the brake fluid level is closer to the "Min" mark or lower, it means that either your brake pads are getting low or there is a brake fluid leak. In either case, the vehicle needs to be checked out as soon as possible to keep it safe.

5. Check Power Steering Fluid Level

Power Steering Fluid Level. If your vehicle has hydraulic power steering, it uses the power steering fluid (Cars with electric power steering don't have it). You can check the power steering fluid in the reservoir under the hood. The proper level is stated on the reservoir or the cap has a dipstick that shows the level. Normally the power steering fluid stays at almost the same level if there is no leaks. If the level is low, have the vehicle checked for possible leaks.

6. Check Automotive Transmission Fluid (if there is a Dipstick)

Many modern cars no longer have a transmission dipstick. In this case, a mechanic at your local dealership can still check your transmission fluid. If your car does have a transmission dipstick, you can find the procedure in the owners manual. It's different for different cars. This is how it's done in this Toyota and many other cars:

This Toyota Corolla does have a transmission dipstick After the vehicle was driven for at least 20-30 minutes and the transmission fluid is warmed up, park your vehicle on a level spot. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in Park position. Leave the engine running. Pull out the automatic transmission dipstick.

Wipe it off, using a clean lint-free towel Wipe it off with a clean lint-free towel. Insert it back fully. Pull it out again and check the fluid level.

The level and fluid condition is OK Transmission fluid expands when warmed up, so if the car has been driven for 20-30 minutes, the transmission level should be between the "HOT" marks. If the transmission fluid level is low, suspect a leak and have it checked out. See this example of a transmission fluid leak. Check the fluid condition: if the fluid looks very dirty or has a burnt smell, see if your mechanic recommends changing it. Today's cars have very strict requirement to the transmission fluid. For this reason, we recommend visiting your dealer if you want to change your transmission fluid.

7. Check the Engine Air filter (if assessable)

New versus dirty air filter. The engine air filter keeps the air entering the engine clean, but over time the filter gets dirty and restricts the air flow. The engine air filter is recommended to be replaced every 15,000-25,000 miles or 24,000-40,000 km, depending on the roads you drive on. Mechanics check your air filter whenever you bring your car for an oil change.

Replacing an air filter in the repair shop costs $35-$50. If you want to check or replace the air filter yourself, on most cars and trucks it's fairly easy. Your owner's manual has directions or you can find instructions on YouTube. It's best to use an original air filter that you can buy at your local dealership parts department; it costs around $20-$30. When you are installing the air filter, make sure it's installed correctly. If it is not installed properly, unfiltered air entering the engine could damage the airflow sensor.

8. Top up windshield washer fluid

Top up the windshield washer fluid. In winter, use only the windshield washer fluid graded for cold temperatures.

9. Check for Visible Leaks

In this car, the coolant (green) was leaking out of the radiator Timely leak repairs can save a lot of money and keep your car safe. Look for signs of leaks under the hood and on the parking spot. Check this photo, the owner noticed something that didn't look right under the hood, so he had it checked out. Turns out, his radiator was leaking coolant. If he hadn't repaired this problem in time, the coolant would leak out and the engine would overheat. This would cost a lot more than a new radiator.

10. Check the Wipers

Replace the wipers if they don't clean well. Replace the wipers if they don't clean properly. If you still have the original wipers installed, you can just replace the rubber refills; they cost just a few bucks and can be purchased from your local dealership's parts department. Check if the windshield washer jets are working properly.

11. Check the Lights

Check your lights regularly Your brake and other lights are important for safe driving. How do you know that all your lights are working? Once in a while, check all of your lights.

12. Check the Tires

The proper tire pressure for this car is 35 psi. If your car doesn't show the tire pressure on the instrument panel, check the tire pressure. You can find the recommended tire pressure on the tire pressure sticker, which is in most cars located on the driver's door jamb. Measure tire pressure when tires are still cold. Pump or deflate to the recommended pressure. The maximum pressure listed on tires is NOT the proper pressure!

This tire is worn out below the limit of 2/32", it's unsafe to drive There is a safe limit of the tire tread wear. If the tire is worn below this limit, it's unsafe to drive. Your owner's manual has the directions on how to measure the tire tread wear or your mechanic can check your tires for you. This tire in the photo is unsafe. How do you know that your tires are close to the minimum limit? Tires have wear bars (indicators) molded into the tread. See this photo of a new versus worn-out tire. You can also check the tread with a tire tread gauge. When your tire tread wears out to around 4/32-nd of an inch, it's time to start shopping for new tires. At 4/32" of the tread remaining, tires are still considered safe, but you may start noticing that your car is sliding a bit when roads are wet.

Regular mechanical inspection

For your safety, we recommend having your car inspected regularly, at least once a year, by a trusted mechanic. We mean not just a quick visual inspection by one of the drive-through fast lube places, but a mechanic that can lift your car and check major components such as brakes, suspension, etc. This is because many components (e.g. ball joints, tie rods, sway bar links) cannot be inspected visually.