Car Maintenance Notes
I’ve been too fast and loose with my car maintenance so I need to actually start keeping track of when I’m doing things and what I need to do…
Short Term Maintenance
Engine Oil
For my Toyota Camry, for synthetic engine oil ($100+ btw), you should do this yearly
- Last done September 27, 2024
Coolant
Check coolant levels every 4 months or so to make sure its not too low. Make sure to check this while your engine is cool!
Tire Pressure + Tread Do this every 4 months as well with your coolant levels while you are home and have a pressure gauge (should be around 30-33 psi?). To check tread, use a quarter with the nose of the caribou facing into the tire, if the nose is exposed, you need new tires…
Air Filter
The engine air filter should be checked / changed every 50,000 km or so
Wipers
Wipers should be replaced every year or so to keep them well functioning
Long Term Maintenance
Transmission Fluid
So you can go around 140,000 km before changing this but my dads saying to never change the transmission fluid until something goes wrong with your transmission? The justification being, once the hydraulics are unsealed, lots of shit goes wrong
Spark Plugs
You don’t need to change these very often either… you can kind of tell when you need new ones because of the lagging acceleration or if your engine misfires, you can change these every 140,000 km or so
Brakes
Brakes should be changed around every 30,000km or so, usually this is just your brake pads but you can check your rotors here as well
- Last done May, 2024 Rotors can go up to 80,000 km on the short end before being replaced
- Last done May, 2024
The rest you can work out with reason when a mechanic brings it up but don’t be a sucker!!!