Every new car comes with a maintenance guide, and the recommended rules to follow are created to help you keep your car in optimum health. And, since the new car models and makes can go more miles and longer times between tune-ups, it really saves you time and money at those routine tune-ups, if you stick to the maintenance guidelines the rest of the year.



In the list below, are the first in a series of instructions for performing several of the most important maintenance checks that will keep your car running well. You will find the type of fluid or oil that is best for your car stated in the instruction manual of your car. If you bought your car from a previous owner, and don't have the original owner/operator manual, it is easy enough to call, or visit online, the manufacturer of your car and request a new one.

Checking the Oil Oil expands when it is warm, and this is when you should check it. A cool engine will give you a lower level reading on the oil, and if you top it off, when the engine is warm again, the oil will overflow.

1) Make sure the car is parked on a level part of your driveway.2) Turn off the engine, and give the car about 10 minutes to let the oil drain into the crankcase.3) Usually, you'll find your dipstick near the spark plugs. The dipstick is a long skinny piece of metal with a loop or a "T" handle on the end of it. 4) Pull the dipstick out, wipe it off with a piece of paper towel, or a clean rag. Then stick it back in, now pull it out again and you will clearly see how much oil is in there.5) If the level is noticeably lower than the full line, then you'll need to top off the level.6) Locate and remove your oil filler cap, it is somewhere in the middle, near the top of the engine.7) Add just a bit of oil, then check the level again, going slowly, just a little at a time will save you from the major clean ups needed if you were to put in too much too fast.8) Make sure that your filler cap is screwed back on, correctly and securely when you are done.

Checking the Brake Fluid. In newer model cars, this maintenance step is pretty easy, in older cars, it is a bit trickier. Just remember that brake fluid is extremely toxic, be very careful to avoid getting it on any part of you.

1) In most cars manufactured since 1980, the brake fluid reservoir is clear plastic, so you can easily see if your fluid level is low.2) If your car is older than 1980, you need to find the Brake Master Cylinder. On the driver's side of the engine compartment, near the back, is the most likely place to find it. It will be a small rectangular metal or plastic container.3) Remove the cap, and add fluid to the "full line", if it has dual containers, fill both halves.4) Replace the cover and you're all done.