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Car Maintenance: What to Check and How Often

Keeping your car up-to-date is the best way to extend its lifespan, improve road safety, and prevent costly repairs. Here's a clear and straightforward guide on what to check and when to do it.

Schedule and General Guidelines for Car Care

To properly organize your vehicle's maintenance and extend its useful life, you should always follow the manufacturer's manual recommendations regarding periodic inspections and intervals.

For this maintenance guide, we have consulted official and reference sources such as the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE), and the OCU.

Following these guidelines helps prevent costly breakdowns and improve road safety, ensuring your car always runs in the best possible condition.

• Follow the manufacturer's manual guidelines.
• Consult official sources like DGT, RACE, and OCU.
• Prevent costly breakdowns and improve safety.

Oil and Filters: The Heart of Your Engine

Oil performs vital functions in your vehicle: it lubricates, cools, and cleans combustion residues from the engine. As it loses its properties over the kilometers driven, it's essential to change it on time.

The oil and filter change depends heavily on the car: check the maintenance plan in the manual, which usually specifies it by kilometers or by time (whichever comes first).

The estimated workshop cost for this oil and filter change operation is usually between 70 and 120 euros.

• Oil lubricates, cools, and cleans the engine.
• How often: follow your car's manual.
• Estimated workshop cost between 70 and 120 euros.

Tire Pressure and Wear

Tires are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Therefore, you should always monitor cold pressure and tread condition to avoid surprises while driving.

The legal minimum tread depth is an aspect you should scrutinize. The mandatory minimum depth in the main grooves for passenger cars and light vehicles is 1.6 mm.

Additionally, RACE recommends that this depth not drop below 3 mm to ensure proper water drainage and prevent dangerous aquaplaning.

Keep in mind that driving with tread less than 1.6 mm incurs a fine of 200 euros, which is reduced to 100 euros with the early payment discount within 20 days, in addition to being a serious defect for the ITV (vehicle inspection).

• Monitor cold pressure and tread.
• Legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm.
• RACE recommends a minimum of 3 mm.
• Fine of 200 euros and serious ITV defect.

Brakes and Coolant

The braking system is crucial for your safety. You should periodically check the brake fluid level and replace it strictly following the manufacturer's guidelines.

Likewise, continuously monitor the progressive wear of brake pads and discs to replace them on time, just before driving safety is compromised.

On the other hand, the cooling system prevents engine overheating. It's advisable to periodically check the coolant level and verify that there are no leaks.

As a general guideline, coolant is usually changed every two years or according to the specific instructions in your engine manual.

• Check and change brake fluid according to the manufacturer.
• Monitor wear on pads and discs.
• Check coolant level to prevent overheating.
• Approximate coolant change every two years.

Battery, Wipers, and Lights

The battery is another element you should check periodically. Ensure the terminals are clean and securely fastened, and make sure it has adequate charge, paying special attention before the winter months arrive.

To ensure proper visibility in any circumstance, regularly check the operation and condition of the car's lighting systems.

Do the same with the wiper blades, replacing them as soon as you notice they leave streaks or do not clear water effectively.

• Check battery terminals and charge before winter.
• Verify correct operation of lights.
• Check the condition of wiper blades.

Timing Belt: The Most Critical Maintenance

The timing belt is a critical component of your car whose preventive maintenance avoids truly catastrophic and costly breakdowns.

Keep in mind that its failure can easily exceed 1,500 euros, compared to the estimated 400 euros it costs to replace it if done on time at a workshop.

You must pay special attention to the strict intervals specified by the manufacturer and the specific design features of each engine, such as engines with an oil-bathed belt like the 1.2 PureTech.

• Avoid catastrophic breakdowns by checking the belt.
• Timely replacement for about 400 euros versus over 1,500 euros for a breakdown.
• Pay attention to engines with oil-bathed belts like the 1.2 PureTech.

«Oh, son, don't put off until tomorrow the car maintenance you can check today, or you'll face nasty surprises on the road.»

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