Guide
Car maintenance schedule: what to service and when
Your owner's manual or maintenance booklet is the final word for your vehicle. This table gives typical starting points, the same defaults Lugnut offers when you add common reminders, so you have something sensible to adjust.
Whichever comes first. Most items have a distance and a time limit. A car that's driven little still needs its oil, brake fluid and coolant changed on time, because they age even when parked.
Typical maintenance intervals
| Item | Kilometres | Miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil and filter | 10,000 km / 12 months | 6,000 mi / 12 months | Many recent cars run 8,000 to 16,000 km on synthetic oil with an oil-life monitor. Use the shorter interval for severe driving. |
| Tire rotation | 10,000 km | 6,000 mi | Often done with the oil change. Not possible on some staggered setups. |
| Seasonal tire change | Twice a year | Twice a year | Where you run winter tires. See the winter tire guide. |
| Cabin air filter | 25,000 km / 2 years | 15,000 mi / 2 years | Sooner with heavy pollen, dust or a musty smell from the vents. |
| Engine air filter | 50,000 km / 4 years | 30,000 mi / 4 years | Check it at every oil change on gravel or dusty roads. |
| Brake fluid | Every 2 years | Every 2 years | Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, whatever the distance. |
| Brake pads and rotors | Inspect; wear often shows by 50,000 km | Inspect; often by 30,000 mi | Wear depends on driving. Many cars have a wear sensor. |
| Spark plugs | 90,000 km / 6 years | 55,000 mi / 6 years | Iridium and platinum plugs are often rated longer; turbo engines sometimes shorter. |
| Coolant | Every 4 years | Every 4 years | Long-life coolants are often rated longer. EVs may have battery coolant on its own schedule. |
| Transmission fluid | About 100,000 km | About 60,000 mi | Some makers say "lifetime"; many technicians still change it, especially with towing. |
| Differential and transfer case | About 100,000 km | About 60,000 mi | All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles. |
| Fuel filter | About 40,000 km | About 25,000 mi | Mainly diesels. Many gasoline cars have a lifetime filter in the tank. |
| 12-volt battery | Test yearly after 3 years; replace about every 5 years | Same | Cold winters shorten battery life. Lugnut's OBD checks track voltage over time. |
| Wiper blades | Every year | Every year | Before winter is a good time. |
| Wheel alignment | Every 2 years | Every 2 years | Also after new tires, a hard pothole or uneven tire wear. |
Mile figures are rounded conversions. Intervals vary by make, engine and model year.
Normal or severe driving?
Most manufacturers publish two schedules. The severe, or "special operating conditions", schedule usually applies if you often:
- drive short trips of less than about 10 km, especially in freezing weather,
- sit in stop-and-go traffic or idle for long periods,
- tow a trailer or carry heavy loads,
- drive on dusty, gravel or salted roads, or
- drive in very hot or very cold climates.
By that definition, many drivers in Canada and the northern U.S. qualify for at least part of the year. If you're not sure, follow the severe schedule for oil changes and filters; the extra cost is small next to engine wear.
Electric vehicles
EVs skip oil, spark plugs and most filters, but they still need tire rotations, cabin air filters, brake fluid, wiper blades, and a check of the 12-volt battery and the battery cooling system as the manual specifies. Regenerative braking makes pads last longer, but calipers can seize from lack of use, so have the brakes inspected and cleaned regularly, especially where roads are salted.
Keep the receipts
A schedule only helps if you know when each job was last done. Keep every receipt, with the date and odometer, so you can prove the work for a warranty claim or a buyer. See how to keep car service records.
Keep track with Lugnut. Set these intervals as reminders, scan each receipt, and Lugnut tells you what's due next. Learn more.