Home Automotive
ByNick Gerhardt
Updated: Feb. 07, 2024
Learn these suggested car repair mileage markers to lengthen your car's life.
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How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Oil?
The frequency of oil changes varies, depending on who you ask but the longtime standard has been 3,000 miles or every three months. Some say that newer cars can go 5,000 miles between oil changes. Here’s how to change your car’s oil so you don’t have to bring it in next time.
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How Often Should You Rotate Car Tires?
Every 6,000 miles. A good way to think about this maintenance task is to do it every other oil change. Learn what can go wrong if you don’t rotate your tires routinely.
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How Often Do You Need to Change You Car’s Air Filter?
You don’t have to worry about changing your car’s air filter as frequently as other car maintenance task. The recommended mileage to change a car air filter is every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Change a car air filter more frequently than 30,000 miles if you live a dusty area. It’s important to change your car’s air filter because a dirty air filter can reduce gas mileage by up to 10 percent. And changing a car’s air filter is super simple.
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How Often Should You Change Your Car’s Fuel Filter?
You might not think about your car’s fuel filter often but a dirty fuel filter can result in a rough-running engine. It’s recommended to change your fuel filter every 30,000 miles but you can always have your mechanic test your fuel filter to see if it needs changing.
Keeping up with car maintenance can help extend the life of your car. Because have you ever searched: How much does it cost to replace an engine? It’s not pretty. Here are some DIY car maintenance tips that will help you immensely.
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How Often Does a Car Battery Need to be Changed?
A car battery will typically last four to five years, which translates to about every 50,000 to 60,000 miles for the average driver, but it’s important to check your battery seasonally, especially if you live in a snowy winter climate because the last thing you want to deal with is a dead battery in a snowstorm. Learning how to change a car battery is super easy and learning proper car battery care can extend your car battery’s life.
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When Should You Change Your Brake Fluid?
Some carmakers recommend replacing brake fluid every two years or 24,000 miles. Others don’t mention brake fluid change at all. But it’s easy to test your brake fluid. Just dip a test strip into the fluid and compare the color to the chart on the packaging. Here’s what you need to know about changing brake fluid.
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Brake Pad Replacement Mileage Estimates
A car that’s used mostly for city driving will need new front brakes and rotors about every 40,000 miles. But cars that are driven mostly on highways can go almost 80,000 miles before the front brakes wear out. You can save up to $350 on brake pad replacement costs by doing it yourself.
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Brake Rotor Replacement
Your car’s brake rotors are typically suggested to be replaced every 60,000 miles, so right around the same time as your brake pads. Replacing brake rotors are slightly tougher than replacing brake pads but it can be done on your own and it can save you around $500. Here are a few more tips to save money on your car repairs.
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Transmission Fluid Change
Most shops recommend a transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles but manufacturer suggestions span from 30,000 to 100,000 miles. Either way, it’s an important maintenance task that can extend the life of your transmission. You can save up to $100 by doing a transmission fluid change yourself.
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When to Replace Car Hoses
Hoses will tend to crack over time and if your car is more than six years old, it’s probably about time to take a look at replacing your car’s hoses. A 6-year-old car will have around 80,000 miles on it for the average driver and that’s about the mileage to think about replacing your car’s hoses. Here’s what you need to know about fixing a car heater hose.
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Power Steering Fluid Change
There aren’t any test strips to determine when to change power steering fluid, so you’ll have to rely on the manufacturer’s service recommendations or general rule-of-thumb (two years or 24,000 miles). Find out how you can save $55 by doing a power steering fluid change yourself.
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Spark Plugs
So how often should spark plugs be replaced? A common question for many vehicle owners is “When should I change my spark plugs?” Well, not all spark plugs are rated for 100,000 miles. In fact, some carmakers recommend replacement at 30,000-mile intervals. So always follow the spark plug service intervals shown in your owner’s manual to figure out when to replace spark plugs. But if you can’t remember when you last changed your spark plugs, you can pull them and check the gap and their condition. Once you’ve put in the labor to begin checking spark plugs, however, you may as well change them and establish a new baseline for the future. Learn how to buy spark plugs so you get the job done right.
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Timing Belt Replacement
Timing belt replacement mileages vary but it used to be every 60,000 miles. These days some manufacturers recommend replacing a timing belt every 100,000. It’s best to check the manufacturer’s guide to determine when you should replace your timing belt.
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Shocks and Struts
About every 80,000 miles a car’s shocks and struts will wear out and need replacing. You can save around $300 by replacing struts on your own.
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Water Pump
Water pumps will typically last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles but mechanics often replace them earlier because if they fail, they create major problems. People typically service their water pump at the same time as their timing belt.
Originally Published: March 03, 2021
