Check and Top-UpĮach of the appropriate under-bonnet fluids will be listed in your owner’s manual, so make sure that you check out exactly which fluids are right for your car before you start topping anything up.

If you do these things a lot, you will most likely want to do these checks every three months. Your car tends to work harder when you idle for long periods of time, do a lot of stopping and starting, or if you drive rough terrain frequently. Short term maintenance should happen every three to six months, depending on how hard you drive your car. And between those regular services (which should happen every six to twelve months - depending on the age of your car), you can do a lot at home to make sure your car is hitting the tarmac in tip-top condition.

No worries though, that’s why we’re around. Car maintenance happens both at home and in the auto shop, and for good reason - unless you’re experienced in mechanics, you may end up doing more harm than good if you try to tackle the big jobs. And, even if you are pretty gung-ho about taking care of your wheels, it can be hard to find a comprehensive maintenance checklist aimed at beginners. We love our cars, and we love to keep them running smoothly, but oftentimes we can let the little things slip through the gaps between car engine inspections.

Let’s face it, keeping up a regular car maintenance schedule can be a daunting prospect for most Kiwis.

Preventive maintenance car checklist