Preventive maintenance can save car owners thousands of dollars in repair bills. While it may mean a few more visits to D&A Garage, the trade of it is savings of time and money later.

Developing a Maintenance Schedule Tire Care Tips General Tips for Safety and Performance Easy Tips for Do-it-yourself Car Maintenance Seasonal Maintenance Checklist Before a Road Trip

Develop a maintenance schedule for your car, here are some general guidelines:

Maintenance Item	Mileage or Time
Oil & filter change and chassis lubrication	3,000 to 5,000 miles or 3 to 4 months
Under hood belt and hose inspection	3,000 to 5,000 miles or 3 to 4 months (every oil change)
Tire rotation and wheel balancing	6,000 miles or every other oil change
Brake inspection	6,000 miles or every other oil change
Replace air filter	12,000 to 24,000 miles or as indicated by inspection
Replace fuel filter	24,000 to 100,000 miles
Automatic transmission service	24,000 to 100,000 miles
Wheel alignment check	12,000 to 24,000 miles or as indicated by tire wear
Cooling system flush and refill	40,000 to 100,000 miles
Belt and hose replacement	60,000 to 100,000 miles or 5 to 8 years
Engine timing belt replacement	60,000 to 100,000 miles (when equipped) or 5 to 8 years
Air conditioning performance check	Annually, usually in the spring

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Tire Care Tips: - Check pressure weekly. - Use an accurate tire pressure gauge and check pressure weekly. - Check pressure when tires are cold (driven less than a mile) and adjust to the air pressure listed on the tire placard posted on doorpost, fuel filler door, or glove box. - Don't forget the spare. Over time it can lose air. Check it monthly. - Never exceed the maximum tire pressure imprinted on the tire's sidewall. - Install valve stem caps. Keep them tight. These cost only few cents each, keep dust and dirt out of the valve stem, and act as a secondary air seal. - Drive smoothly. Jackrabbit starts, hard stops, and fast cornering shorten tread life. - Avoid road hazards. Drive around tire-puncturing debris such as glass, metal, wood and avoid potholes that can bruise tires. - Back to Top -

Two very important general tips for safety and performance: *Keep you car engine in tune *Keep your car’s brakes, steering and suspension systems in good condition

Easy Tips for do-it-yourself car maintenance: (not an exhaustive list, just a few reminders) Antifreeze: check level every week Engine Fluid: check level every other fuel fill-up Tires: check monthly and keep inflated to recommended pressure Inspect lights: at least monthly Windshield Washer Field: check and top up every other fill-up Wiper Blades: replace every year, or if cracking or smearing occurs

- Back to Top - Seasonal Maintenance: Oil change:    every 3 months or 3,000 miles Battery: have it checked with every oil change Winter tires: don’t delay, get your winter tires on before the rush. Don’t assume so-called “all season” tires will do: in Montreal’s icy winter conditions good quality winter tires will serve you best. Exhaust: have emissions checked yearly

An excellent source for more maintenance tips is the Motorist Assurance Website. http://www.motorist.org/e1.htm

Checklist before a road trip: 1) Fill the fluids. Check your oil, coolant, transmission, brake and windshield wiper fluid levels are where they're supposed to be, and make sure hoses are intact and free of leaks. 2) Your car's windshield is important for fuel economy, comfort and safety. It even plays a part in the crash-worthiness of your car. Check your windshield and all your auto glass for chips or cracks. - Back to Top -