Tune-Up Your Car Knowledge

These routine maintenance checks will keep your ride running smoothly.

- Markman Heid

When it comes to knowing basic car maintenance skills, many guys are asleep at the wheel. A survey from tire-maker Michelin finds 33 percent of people don’t know how to check their tires’ pressure.

It’s time to wake up: Master these five simple tasks to keep your car running smoothly on the road.

1 KNOW YOUR OIL Oil cools, cleans, and lubricates your engine; wait too long to replace it and your engine could get contaminated with dirt and debris, potentially shortening its lifespan.

It doesn’t take much to be proactive, says Mike Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA. First, check your vehicle’s manual—“the least-read book on the planet,” Calkins jokes—to find out the type of engine oil in your car.

Most new cars require synthetic and semi-synthetic engine oils. You can usually go 8,000km to 16,000km between changes, compared to conventional oil found in older cars, which breaks down sooner (often after 4,828km), Calkins says.

If you know you’ve driven more than 16,000km since your last change, head to the shop.

Or, if you have an in-dash oil life monitor—many cars do—schedule an appointment once the level hits 10 percent, says Calkins.

2 CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE Over-inflated tires can hurt your car’s traction on slick roads. But if your tires don’t have enough air, they’ll wear out faster and reduce your car’s stopping power, Calkins says.