Car maintenance is not usually something that the average person thinks of until there is a problem. Besides getting an oil change every 3,000 miles and filling up your tires, most people do little maintenance and upkeep to their car unless there is a problem. While this may work for some time, eventually your car will have a problem. The best way to keep up with your car is to schedule a twice a year trip to your local auto shop or if inclined to do it yourself. Here is a car maintenance checklist to follow.

Brakes: Having fresh brake fluid is essential to having a smooth running car. For best results the brake fluid should be flushed and replenished every 18 months. Doing this brake repair this often will prevent long term and more expensive brake problems that can occur from ignoring your brakes. Also any sign different feeling or sign of problems with your brake pedal could be the result of brake fluid leak or a problematic master cylinder. If this occurs it is necessary to get your car into the auto shop as soon as possible.

Routine tune-ups: Older model cars usually required tune up every 12,000 to 18,000 miles depending on the model and the age of the car. Newer cars are built much better and require less frequent trips to the auto shop. Most cars can get by with tune ups every 45,000 miles or so and usually involve getting new spark plugs, air filters and hooking the car up to a diagnostic computer. This service will usually run 3 or 4 hours so it is best to get a ride to your auto shop and pick it up at a later time if at all possible.

Tire care: It is a good idea to rotate your car tires every 5,000 miles or if you are driving frequently to do it every time that you get an oil change on your vehicle. A good rule of thumb is that if you travel frequently or drive long distances to work it is a good idea to get your oil changed and tires rotated every 2 months as this will even out the tread on the tires. If you have used tires it is wise to replace them every two years, as they don’t have as much tread as new tires. If you choose to purchase used tires always choose reliable brands that rank well in safety and quality.

Winter maintenance: If you live in a region where you will be driving through harsh winter conditions it is best to get everything completely maintenance and checked out by a mechanic every year. The best option is to take your car to a local shop and have a trusted mechanic give your car an inspection for any potential problems that you may have. Getting these problems fixed before they happen is a great way to prepare your car for much more wear and tear as the winter season will do to a car.

Derek Smith is an author and partner at EcoFusion Technologies, a full service Software and SEO company. In his spare time he writes on a diverse number of automotive topics. Read here for more information on more automotive topics such as changing your oil, car maintenance and how to find used tires.