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Every car needs a good maintenance schedule. Setting up that schedule does not have to be a difficult process. In fact, if you take a little while right now to sit down with a calendar, you can begin to put together a maintenance schedule that will work for you. A maintenance schedule for your car is something more important than just a way to add something to your to do list. Instead it is a way to help ensure that your car will last longer. Well-tuned cars do better than cars allowed to go until something dies. Plus when you take your car in for regular maintenance, you will find that you may have a heads-up on certain problems that your car could have instead of finding out by being stranded on the highway.

The most basic of car care pieces is the oil change. Conventional wisdom says that you should get the oil changed in your car every three months or three thousand miles whichever comes first. If you are like most people, the three-month mark probably will hit first. Even if it does not, you can go about five thousand miles before you really need to change the oil in your car. So, you should plan right now while you have your calendar out to have your oil changed. If you have not had it done in a while, then put next week down as the first appointment. Then move out three, six, and nine months to mark your next changes.

Second, you should plan to get the tires on your car changed annually. Now you may not need the tires changed as often, especially if you drive the car little. Still you should plan on it. Should the time come and you find that you do not need new tires, then you are in a better position than needing them and not being able to get them.

If you are not sure when you had your tires changed and if you need new ones now, then you should go out and check them. The treads (the part of the tire that sticks up in a pattern) should tell the story. If they are worn very thin, then you are in danger of having a tire blow. Otherwise, you can get an idea of how good the treads are and mark the tire change on your calendar accordingly.

The final piece of basic maintenance is the tune-up. Although many people skip this step in car maintenance, it can save you some headaches in the future. Your best bet is to get your tune up before the worst season for your car. If you live in the south, then choose to get it in April or May; northerners should opt for November. That way you are headed into the harshest season with your car tuned up.

A basic tune up will consist of the mechanic checking all of the fluids in your car (likely topping them off if needed) and checking the basics, such as your heater, air conditioner, air filter, and windshield wiper blades. The mechanic also will check belts and other moving parts on the engine to see how they are working and whether or not they need to be changed. A good mechanic will give you a list of things that you need and things that could be changed soon.

Many mechanics will try to strong-arm you into getting massive repairs done every time you are in. Just be sure to do your homework, especially if you feel you are being told that work does not need to be done. Know how often the shocks, plugs, fan belts, and other basics are likely to be needed on your car. For example, the CV axle needs to be replaced about every five years in many cars; if you have had yours two, then ask the mechanic what would make it wear out so quickly. Do not agree to any repairs at the tune-up. There will not be an extra cost for bringing the car back after you have had time to do your homework.

This regular maintenance schedule for your car will improve its life and put less hassle in yours.