Maintenance

Routine maintenance guides

What to check, how often to check it, and what to write down so the next interval is easy to plan. Always follow your owner manual for the intervals specific to your vehicle.

Oil change planning

Track intervals by mileage and by time so an oil change never depends on remembering a number from months ago.

Note the interval your owner manual lists for your oil type.
Log the odometer reading at every change, not just the date.
Check the level between changes if the vehicle burns oil or sits unused.

Tire rotation and tread

Rotation keeps wear even across the set, and a simple tread check tells you when a tire is near the end of its life.

Rotate on a mileage schedule rather than by feel.
Check pressure when the tires are cold for an accurate reading.
Inspect tread depth and uneven wear patterns at the same time.

Fluid checks

Coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and washer fluid each have their own inspection rhythm.

Check coolant and brake fluid levels with the engine cold and level.
Look at fluid colour and clarity, not just the level line.
Note the date of every top up so a slow loss becomes visible.

Battery care

Most battery failures arrive without warning, but age, terminal condition, and cold weather give useful clues.

Record the purchase date so you know the battery age.
Keep terminals clean and firmly attached.
Expect reduced cranking capacity in sustained cold.

Brake maintenance

Pads, rotors, and fluid wear at different rates, and small changes in feel or sound are the early signal.

Have pad thickness inspected at every tire rotation.
Treat new noises, vibration, or a longer pedal travel as an inspection cue.
Follow the manual interval for brake fluid replacement.

Dashboard warning lights

Knowing which lights mean stop now and which mean schedule service soon removes most of the guesswork.

Red generally means stop safely and investigate before driving on.
Amber generally means service is needed but not immediately.
A steady light and a flashing light can mean very different things.