Maybe next time your car makes a funny noise, instead of blaming it on the manufacturer, ask yourself, "When was the last time I had the engine inspected by a mechanic?".

When we get sick, we waste no time making our way to the doctors office to see what is wrong, so how come we blame our cars when they get sick?

Usually the car breaks down only after years of abuse and disuse, and much of these break downs and failures can be thwarted by simple, timely maintenance.

Here are some tips on what you need to do, why, and when.

When your car breaks down, it is guaranteed to mess up an otherwise perfectly good day. If you knew when and where your car was going to break down ahead of time, you probably would maintain it much better than you already do.

The key reason regular maintenance is so pertinent is that it keeps your car healthy, and you happy.

So what exactly does regular maintenance consist of? Is an oil change every 5000 miles enough? Or should you change the air filter as well?

Proper maintenance is essentially checking every renewable aspect of the engine and body regularly to see to it that it is in tip top condition. This means you should change the oil, lube, and filter every 3000 miles, and have the air filters checked at the same time.

It is also recommended that you give your car a chassis lube and have all the vehicles fluids topped off and hoses and belts inspected. Do not forget to check the tire pressure because this is the key to good grip and gas economy.

Most manufacturers suggest you have an inspection performed on the fuel system at the 6000 mile mark. At 15000 miles, you should perform all of the above as well as order an air filter change and a 4-wheel alignment.

At 18000 you should get an engine oil system flush, and at 30000 it is recommended that you perform all of the above as well as injector cleaning and throttle body service, tire balancing and rotation, a power steering flush, automatic transmission flush, radiator system flush, and an evaporator system flush.

This may sound quite involved for simple car maintenance, but remember in the case of a car, the more you put in the more you get out in the form of prolonged, reliable function.

If you perform regular maintenance, do not forget to keep records. These records are for your own organization as well as a great positive for your car's worth, should you decide to sale.

If you take good care of your car, it will take great care of you.

As you can see, there are many different measures that you can take in order to properly prepare your vehicle. However, not taking these steps can lead to roadside trouble that may prove to be extremely challenging!