When it comes to keeping your vehicle running, maintenance should always be at the top of your list of priorities. Proper maintenance, per your owner’s manual, is the best way to avoid big, expensive repairs and problems that can cause your vehicle to break down prematurely.
With a new year approaching, there has never been a better time to start thinking about how you can improve your vehicle’s longevity and ensure that it is performing at the very top of its ability. With a good idea of what maintenance tasks are the most essential, you can make the most of your car and keep it running smoothly for many years to come.
Some maintenance tasks are more important than others, but they should all be done on the same regular basis if you are going to keep your vehicle in good shape and avoid expensive breakdowns. Sometimes, your best bet is to start with a complete tuneup at a specific time, and the start of a new year is the perfect jumping-off point.
By taking on these crucial maintenance tasks before the new year begins, you can go into 2025 knowing that your vehicle will be in great shape.
Check and Change the Oil
Engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and it needs to be clean and free of any dirt or gunk if it is going to offer the lubrication your car needs. Checking the oil level is a great place to start if you want to give your vehicle a maintenance tune-up for the new year. Your car’s engine will have a dipstick located on the top of the engine that is usually yellow or orange in color.
Park your vehicle on a level surface and pull out the dipstick. Then, wipe it off completely with a rag and put it back in the dipstick holder. Then, you can pull it out and check the motor oil level. If it is low, topping it off will ensure that your engine has enough lubrication to run smoothly.
You also need to change your vehicle’s oil on a regular basis, ideally per your vehicle’s maintenance schedule, to keep the inside of your engine clean. For most modern vehicles that use synthetic oil, you should change it every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. However, if you have an older vehicle that uses conventional oil, you will want to increase that frequency to every 3,000 miles. Oil changes will help prevent wear and tear on the engine, overheating, and other issues that can lead to serious problems and expensive repairs.
Inspect Tires and Tread Depth
As a car owner, making sure that your tires are in good shape should always be a priority, especially when the weather is less than ideal, and you are likely to run into rain, snow, or ice. A thorough inspection of your tires is a great way to know whether or not you need to fill the tire pressure, replace the tires, or rotate them.
Look at your tires and check for any bald spots or signs of wear, such as cupping. Cupping occurs when the tread blocks develop pits in their center, which can decrease the amount of traction on the road. If you rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, though, you should be able to avoid uneven or premature wear.
You should also take a look at the tread depth of your vehicle’s tires to find out if they are starting to wear down. The quarter test is a time-honored way to determine how much tread your tires have and can help you determine whether or not you need to replace them.
To do the test, place a quarter upside down between the tread blocks of your tires. If the top of George Washington’s head touches the tread, you have a sufficient amount left. While this is not an entirely accurate test, it can at least give you a good idea of whether or not your tires are in dire condition and need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Test the Battery and Clean the Terminals
When the weather starts to cool, you need to be certain that your battery is in good condition. Cold weather can reduce your battery’s charging capacity, potentially leaving you stranded in bad conditions. If you want to avoid this serious safety hazard, a battery voltage test is the smart choice. This test will tell you how much capacity your battery has left and whether or not you should replace it for the coming year.
The terminals will also need some vehicle maintenance if you want to make the most of your car battery. Over time, your battery terminals can develop corrosion and a buildup of minerals that can lessen the contact of the cables. This can result in slow starting, poor charging, and other serious electrical issues. Clean your battery terminals with a wire brush and make sure there is solid contact with the cable clips to get hassle-free starting all year long.
Replace Worn Wiper Blades and Top Off Washer Fluid
Windshield wiper blades are meant to have a tight seal on the glass of the windshield. If they start to dry out and deteriorate, though, they will develop cracks, which can leave streaks on the windshield and lessen your visibility on the road. If you are noticing that your windshield wipers are squeaking or skipping along the glass instead of wiping smoothly, they may need to be replaced before the new year starts.
Your washer fluid is another important fluid that should be topped up from time to time. In bad weather, you will need a way to clean your windshield and eliminate dirt and grime. Check your windshield washer fluid regularly to make sure that you can see clearly when it matters most.
Check Fluid Levels for Coolant, Brakes, and Transmission
While your vehicle’s oil level is incredibly important, there are many other fluids that need to be checked to ensure that they are at the proper level. To check your coolant level, look at the plastic reservoir toward the front of your car in the engine compartment. There will be lines to indicate the right level, and you can top it off as needed.
The same goes for your brake fluid, which will have a plastic reservoir located toward the back of the engine compartment. Your vehicle should also have a transmission fluid dipstick toward the back of the engine or off to the side. Checking all these fluids and topping them off or changing them out as needed will help you stay safe and start 2025 off right.
Inspect Brakes and Brake Pads
Your vehicle most likely has many different safety features and equipment like lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic headlights. There is no safety component as important as your brakes, though. If your brakes feel spongy or they vibrate when you step on the pedal, this could mean that your brake lines have developed air bubbles and they will need to be bled.
Your brake pads should be thick enough to generate the right amount of friction to bring your vehicle to a stop. Check the thickness of your brake pads by shining a flashlight through the wheel and onto the brake mechanism. If the pads are at least 1/4 inch thick, they are sufficient and should pose no issues. If they are any less, though, they will need to be replaced as soon as possible so you can be sure your car has the stopping power it needs.
Test Lights and Replace Bulbs
Visibility is key when it comes to automotive safety, especially in the winter months going into 2025. Do a thorough check of all your vehicle’s external lights, including the headlights, fog lights, brake lights, and tail lights. If any of your bulbs are burnt out, replace them with new bulbs that are the correct size and brightness for your vehicle. This way, you can be sure that you won’t have any issues with visibility when you are on the road as the winter starts to rear its ugly head.
How Endurance Covers Essential Repairs
While maintenance is incredibly important for keeping your vehicle in great shape, having a protection plan in place for when you need repairs is just as crucial. When you buy your car new at the dealership, it will usually come with a manufacturer’s warranty that is there to protect you from issues with the vehicle’s design or problems that can occur in the first few years of owning the car. Once this warranty is up, though, you will be financially responsible for any repairs that might have to be made, and even with proper maintenance, you could find yourself facing some fairly steep repair bills at some point or another.
An extended warranty, which is more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), can be purchased from a third party and will help you get the coverage you need to avoid expensive trips to the repair shop. Endurance offers a large range of protection plans for everything from older high-mileage vehicles to top-of-the-line luxury and exotic cars.
Plus, Endurance covers vehicles that other providers won’t, such as Canadian Gray Market cars, vehicles with a rebuilt or salvage title, and cars used for commercial purposes like rideshare or delivery. With a customized plan from Endurance and regular maintenance, you can rest easy knowing that your car will always be in great condition.
Keep Your Car Running Smoothly With Endurance
If you want confidence going into 2025 that your vehicle will get you where you need to go, look no further than a protection plan from Endurance. With plans available for vehicles, drivers, and budgets of all types, you can find the perfect coverage for your specific needs and enjoy your time behind the wheel.
In addition to a wide range of coverage plans, Endurance also offers a collection of standard benefits to every customer to help keep you safe on the road. These include things like 24/7 roadside assistance, trip interruption protection, and rental car coverage. Plus, for a small activation fee, you also get access to Endurance’s Elite Benefits. These extra perks include tire repairs, key fob replacement, and up to $1,000 in total loss coverage.*
If you are ready to get the best protection for your vehicle in the new year, get in touch with our award-winning customer service team at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote. You can also head over to our online store and get an instant price preview so you can make the right decision for yourself and your car.
Be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog for more auto expert resources like frequently asked questions, provider comparisons, DIY tips, information on mechanical breakdown insurance for California drivers, and much, much more.