5 Vehicle Maintenance Steps You Don't Want To Skip

As a rule of thumb, if any car fluid looks dark and dirty, it should be replaced, including the power steering fluid. Over time, the power steering fluid picks up moisture and contaminants that can affect the lubrication of the pump and clog the passages. Although power steering conditioners are used to keep things running smoothly, it's a good idea to get your power steering system flushed and replaced at regular intervals.

There are no test strips to determine when to change your car’s power steering fluid. Therefore, it is advised to change your power steering fluid according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or follow standard guidelines for replacement, i.e., 3 to 5 years or 60,000 to 120,000 kilometers. A good indicator of old power steering fluid is a change in color. Generally, the power steering fluid is light and clear without any sludge or debris.

The cooling system of your vehicle consists of various components like a thermostat, radiator, coolant, water pump, heater core, fan, and hoses and pipes. This system helps keep the engine cool and prevents it from overheating. Therefore, monitoring and maintaining your cooling system is critical.

Start by checking your engine coolant level when the engine is completely cooled down. Make sure the coolant looks clean, is not dirty or black, and is filled to its optimum level. Top off the fluid if it's clean, or get it replaced. It's recommended to change your coolant and perform a complete coolant flush every 3 to 5 years, or every 50000 km, or as recommended by your manufacturer. Coolant is typically a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and antifreeze, but it is also available in premixed ratios depending on the application. However, it's important to check your owner's manual, as newer vehicles may have specific formulations recommended by the manufacturer. Read more about coolants, antifreeze, and additives in our comprehensive guide. 

Furthermore, to maintain your cooling system, check for coolant leaks that can happen due to weak or loose radiator hose fitting, or a cracked radiator. It's also necessary to check your engine for signs of overheating and other symptoms of a bad cooling system to prevent further issues. It's a good idea to get your cooling system checked during your routine vehicle maintenance visit to a mechanic.

Like other automotive fluids, transmission fluid deteriorates with time and has to be replaced periodically. If left unnoticed, it can severely affect your transmission components. Hard use like stop-and-go traffic in city driving, hauling heavy loads, and towing trailers make the transmission fluid deteriorate quickly. High-stress driving conditions raise the temperature of the transmission, inflicting more stress on the transmission fluid. Unlike engine oil, transmission oil not only lubricates the transmission components but also facilitates gear shifts and cools the transmission.

Manual transmissions use conventional gear oil that serves a different purpose than automatic transmission fluid and has a different maintenance schedule as well. Generally, car manufacturers don't call for a fresh automatic fluid change until 120,000 to 160,000 km. However, a lot of mechanics suggest changing your automatic transmission fluid every 80,000 km. It's best to consult a mechanic or look for the manufacturer's recommended fluid change intervals in your owner's manual.

The condition of your transmission fluid can be determined by its appearance. Usually transmission fluid comes in red, pink, or another bright color. If the fluid color turns dark, dirty, or has a burnt odor, it should be changed. It can also be a sign of a mechanical problem. Some cars feature a transmission fluid dipstick, and some don't. If your car doesn't have a dipstick, you might have to open the drain plug. It is a job better left to a trained mechanic.

Some manufacturers market their vehicles with lifetime transmission fluid. This is extremely deceptive since no fluid can last forever. Even lifetime transmission fluid has an expiry date that the manufacturer falsely claims since the transmission is designed to last at least until the manufacturer warranty lasts. Make sure you replace transmission fluid even in such vehicles. Learn more about this and other common car myths here.

Vehicle wheel alignment refers to the angle or orientation of each wheel in comparison to each other and the suspension and steering components. Every vehicle has a specific set of measurements fixed by the manufacturer to ensure proper handling and performance. However, these measurements and the alignment of the vehicle get disturbed when the vehicle hits a pothole or when suspension components wear out over time. The misaligned wheel can lead to several problems, like increased tire wear, steering wheel vibration, decreased fuel efficiency, etc.

Other signs of wheel alignment problems include a strong pull to the side while driving straight on the road. You can also experience a heavy and clumsy feeling where the wheel is reluctant to center itself after completing a turn. Furthermore, it is not possible to perform wheel alignment on an older vehicle with idler arms and pitman arms, and these parts have to be replaced. Do not skip your wheel alignment and get it done periodically to ensure a smooth and safe ride and longer-lasting tires and suspension components.

Changing your car's differential oil is one of the most overlooked car maintenance items. all vehicles have differentials. However, if it fails, it will cause your car to break down. A differential is located in all vehicles, but rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles have separate units. It allows the wheels to rotate at different speeds and has a separate housing and lubrication system.

Over time, differential fluid oxidizes and breaks down, losing its ability to lubricate the gears and bearings. This leads to vibration, grinding gears, and whining noises while driving. To prevent these problems, preventive differential maintenance is very important. Get your differential serviced by draining and replacing it with new fluid. This will remove all the contaminants in the differential casing, improve heat transfer, and increase the life of differential-related components.

Usually, the differential fluid change interval is between 30,000 and 60,000 miles. Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended differential service intervals. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can consider the transfer case intervals for your differential servicing.

Performing these overlooked car maintenance steps takes a few hours combined but will add several miles of life to your vehicle. A recent survey showed that over 90% of the cars running on the road have at least one essential maintenance that has not been performed. Although this list doesn't include all the service items, it includes the most commonly overlooked maintenance items that can have a significant impact on how your vehicle performs. Do not allow your car to break down and ensure you don't forget about these maintenance steps. And, of course, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.