Vehicle Maintenance: A New Year's Promise That Pays Off

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 21, 2006 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If cars could talk, what would they say? Would they feel cared for or neglected by their owners, and would they eventually trade in their owners as a way to get maintained? If your car has been taken for granted, the start of the New Year is an ideal time to make things right and commit to regular maintenance. By doing so, vehicles will respond with improved performance, safety and reliability, and owners likely save on costly repair bills that often are the result of neglect, according to the Car Care Council.

The council recommends the following service interval schedule to use when making regular vehicle maintenance part of your New Year's resolution:

  * Perform monthly checks of tire pressure and the condition of tires,
    lights and windshield washer fluid.  The vehicle should also be cleaned
    monthly.

  * Every three months or 3,000 miles, change the engine oil and filter,
    check the levels of other fluids including automatic transmission, power
    steering and brake, and check battery and cables, belts and hoses.  The
    exhaust and fuel filter should also be checked at this interval.

  * Every six months or 6,000 miles, the chassis lubrication should be
    checked and windshield wipers should be replaced.

  * Every 12 months or 12,000 miles, the brakes, spark plugs, coolant and
    steering and suspension should be checked.

If the "Check Engine" light comes on, vehicles should be immediately taken in for service to identify the problem.

The Car Care Council Web site, http://www.carcare.org/, has a Service Interval Schedule for vehicle owners to follow. Drivers should also consult their owner's manual for specific recommendations by the carmaker.

"Many New Year's resolutions are hard to keep and go by the wayside pretty quickly," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "This one should be different because it's relatively simple to implement and the results are demonstrated in a better performing vehicle and fewer unexpected repairs and breakdowns."

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more information, visit http://www.carcare.org/.