The Most Important Maintenance Items on Your Vehicle – Part one of two

 Modern cars don’t require as much attention as they did 50 years ago, but don’t let that give you a false sense of security – there are still several things you need to keep after.
We’ve all been told that keeping up with our vehicle’s maintenance is important. If you look in your vehicle’s manual, you see there are enough service reminders and maintenance points to make your head spin.  Fortunately, there are a few main areas that will, if you remember to keep up with, keep your car operating safely and reliably for years to come.
Oil
It has been said that oil is the life blood of your car’s engine.  This isn’t really accurate because, unless you are really sick, you don’t need to change out your blood. Oil is what keeps your engine’s parts rotating smoothly and working properly.  Over time, exhaust gasses from the cylinders and even small bits of metal will contaminate the oil and reduce its effectiveness.  Heat from the engine also breaks down the oil.  Just like any other fluid, heat will reduce the viscosity (thickness) of the oil.  If the oil becomes too thin, it won’t lubricate the engine as well as it should, and parts wear out faster.
The old rule of changing your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles has thankfully been disbanded.  Many modern vehicles can go 5,000 or even 10,000 miles between oil changes. To know how long your particular vehicle can go between oil changes you should consult your owner’s manual.  Many newer vehicles even have a complex monitoring system that evaluates your driving habits and various aspects of your oil to determine how long your oil will last.
But, maybe you’re like the majority of young vehicle buyers and you purchased your car second, third, or even tenth hand.  The vehicle is not very new and the owner’s manual is long gone.  In that case, search the internet for a digital copy.  Still no luck?  Try and find an owner’s forum.  These typically have a maintenance section with recommended service intervals.  Often times they also have walkthroughs on how to do the service yourself.  The quality varies from forum to forum, but I’ve yet to have to go past page 2 of a Google search to find what I’m looking for.
Air Filter
Breathe in through your mouth. Breathe out.  Now, take off one of your shoes and a sock.  Now, place your sock over your mouth. Now, breathe in.  You didn’t get as much air as the first time and you now feel a little gross right?  Well, the same thing happens to your engine when your air filter gets clogged with dirt and dust.  A clogged air filter can reduce your gas mileage, your horsepower, and even cause your engine to run rough and stall out.
The frequency of which you will need to change your air filter will vary widely based on two factors.  How many miles you drive each year and the atmospheric conditions during those miles.  Most manufacturers recommend changing your filter ever 5,000 miles.  Personally, I think this is premature.  I’ve found the air filters in many of my street vehicles to be fine for anywhere between 7,500 to 10,000 miles. If you drive in severe conditions (rural dirt roads, or urban areas with a lot dust from construction) you will probably need to change the air filter more frequently.
If your vehicle’s engine isn’t in the best of shape (burning oil under the hood) those fumes can contaminate the filter as well.  In extreme circumstances, these conditions can cause a filter to become unusable in as little as 1,000 miles.  Trust me, I’ve been there.
For the remaining maintenance items, please read the January issue of The Magazine of Santa Clarita.