Overall Vehicle Health Checklist

Once a month, be sure to check your oil levels. When doing so, look under the hood of your vehicle only when the engine isn’t hot. With a low level of oil, your engine could develop problems, so it’s a good idea to inspect it both regularly and before embarking on a road trip.

Your tires should not be overinflated or underinflated since either condition could be dangerous when driving. Each month, take the time to check your tire pressure by using a tire pressure gauge. During the winter months, you should consider checking your tire pressure more often since tire pressure can drop with the temperature.

The struts and shocks of your vehicle are necessary for your steering system to function properly. About every 50,000 miles, take your vehicle into a dealership’s service department to have the parts inspected. If you lose control while driving or have a ride that’s less smooth than normal, these are also signs that a service technician should inspect the parts.

Your vehicle’s radiator works to keep your engine at a cool temperature. To make sure that your radiator is filled properly, you need to have a service technician regularly flush your coolant system. Your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation should let you know when this service is needed.

About once a year, you should replace your windshield wipers. Before the winter season, you may also want to install winter wiper blades so that you can have optimal visibility during snowstorms.

With snowy road conditions, you should also consider replacing your tires with snow tires. These tires can help you have traction on slick roads.