Vehicle Maintenance Checklist Blog 

The key to driving your vehicle for as long as you want is to keep it well-maintained. Here’s a handy checklist of what you should be doing for your car at certain times. Keep in mind that if you bring your vehicle in for regular servicing, we perform many of these services for you as part of the maintenance schedule. If you have any questions, please give our Service Department a call at Sun Chevrolet near Pittsburgh, PA.

Every Month

• Check the oil level every time you put gas in your car or at least once a month. Your owner’s manual will tell you how to do this. Keep a quart or two of oil in your trunk as well as a funnel, so you can top off the oil as needed.
• Check the coolant/anti-freeze. Do not open the radiator cap if the engine is hot. Look at the level of the coolant reservoir. Your owner’s manual can tell you where to find this and any other reservoirs in your vehicle. Check the instructions on your coolant to add it directly or mix it 50/50 with distilled water before adding.
• Inspect the windshield wiper fluid container and add more fluid as needed.
• Have someone turn the headlamps on and off, step on the brakes, turn on the emergency lights, and try the turn signals as you walk around the vehicle. You can then tell if any bulbs are burnt out and require replacing.

Three Months or 3,000 Miles

• Check the pressure in all tires if your vehicle does not have a Tire Pressure Monitor. Fill the tire with air if needed. The recommended pressure is usually listed inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. Make sure that the tires remain undamaged.
• Inspect the battery to ensure that it is free of corrosion and mounted securely. Check that any cables are fastened properly.
• Look at the automatic transmission fluid with the engine running and the vehicle in Park. Add as needed.
• Check that the engine air filter is close to white or off-white. If it’s dirty, replace it.
• From now until 5,000 miles, consider changing the oil and filter. Don’t forget that every new Chevy gets its first maintenance for free, which includes an oil and filter change, within the first year of ownership.

Six Months or 6,000 Miles

• Replace the wiper blades to help keep your front view clear.
• Clean your car at least twice a year or whenever it gets dirty. During the winter, clean your vehicle once a month if it has to endure salt on the roads.
• Have your tires rotated at our Service Department, so that they wear evenly on all sides.

12 Months or 12,000 Miles

• Have the brake system checked by our Service Department.
• Once a year, change the cabin air filter (as opposed to the engine air filter).
• Replace the coolant at least once a year. If the liquid seems to be disappearing faster than usual, you may have a leak in the coolant system.

Other Intervals

You can do the following maintenance when you notice certain issues or at intervals greater than two years.

• If your tires are wearing unevenly or your vehicle pulls to the right or left when you’re trying to go straight, your wheels may be misaligned. Take your car to our Service Department to have the wheels aligned.
• If you have trouble starting your engine or your battery is over three years old, have it checked and replaced as needed.
• Tires typically last between six and 10 years, so check the depth of the treads if yours are that old. Put a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, then your treads are worn and your tires must be replaced.
• You may need a flashlight to inspect your brake pads. If they look to be less than 1/4-inch thick, they need replacing. If your brakes have a built-in wear indicator, they will squeal when they get too thin.
• Look at the timing belt as directed by your owner’s manual. They typically need replacing between 60,000 and 90,000 miles.

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