Vehicle maintenance describes the act of inspecting or testing the condition of vehicle subsystems (e.g., engine) and servicing or replacing parts and fluids. Regular maintenance is critical to ensure the safety, reliability, drivability, comfort and longevity of a vehicle. During preventive maintenance, a number of parts are replaced to avoid major damage or for safety reasons.
 

The actual schedule of vehicle maintenance varies depending on the year, make, and model of a vehicle, its driving conditions and driver behavior. Vehicle makers recommend the so-called extreme or the ideal service schedule based on impact parameters such as:
 

Experienced service advisors in dealerships and independent shops recommend schedule intervals, which are often in between the ideal or extreme service schedule. They base it on the driving conditions and behavior of the vehicle owner or driver.

Common vehicle maintenance tasks include:
 

• Vehicle wash
• Check/replace the engine oil and replace filters (Oil, Air, Fuel etc.,)
• Inspect or replace windshield wipers
• Check or refill windshield washer fluid
• Inspect tires for pressure and wear
• Tyre balancing
• Tyre rotation
• Wheel alignment
• Check, clean or replace battery terminals and top up battery fluid
• Inspect or replace brake pads
• Check or flush brake fluid
• Check or flush transmission fluid
• Check or flush power steering fluid
• Check and flush engine coolant
• Inspect or replace spark plugs
• Lubricate locks, latches, hinges
• Check all lights
• Tighten chassis nuts and bolts
• Check if rubber boots are cracked and need replacement
• Test electronics, e.g., Anti-lock braking system or ABS
• Read fault codes from the Engine control unit

Some tasks that have equivalent service intervals are combined into one single service known as a tune-up. In modern vehicles, where electronics control most of the vehicle's functions, the traditional tune-up doesn't apply anymore. Maintenance jobs like a tune-up used to mean getting the engine's performance back on track. Today embedded software takes vehiclee of it by constantly checking thousands of sensor signals, compensating for worn-out spark plugs, clogged filters, etc. The so-called limp-home function allows driving on limited power when the engine is in trouble. In the old days this might have meant a breakdown.

Useful Hint: A complete service history usually adds to the resale value of a vehicle