Honda Car Maintenance: A Service Schedule Guide
Honda vehicles are known to be a reliable and practical option. Many car shoppers choose a Honda model because of their combination of value and affordability. However, despite being a reliable vehicle, all Honda models require a certain amount of maintenance to keep things running smoothly.
If you're wondering, "How often should I service my Honda car?" you're not alone. For those who are unfamiliar with the required maintenance schedule of Hondas, knowing how to take care of your car can be confusing.
Fortunately, Hondas are built to last and generally don't need expensive repairs often. But you will need to learn the basics of your Honda's maintenance schedule to ensure your vehicle is in top condition. We'll discuss some of the key maintenance tasks that need to be taken care of at regular intervals.
Every 7,500 Miles
One of the most regular maintenance tasks you'll need to perform on your Honda is an oil change. Every 7,500 or six months (whichever comes first), your car needs to be taken into a dealership or service facility to get the oil changed. You may also decide to do this routine task yourself in order to save money.
Why is changing your oil on a fixed schedule important? Though it may not seem that important, following the recommended oil changes is essential for your car's health and lifespan. Without oil changes, you'll risk damaging your engine, which could result in poor performance or even total failure. If this happens, you'll have to pay a lot of money for repairs or replacement.
At the 7,500-mile marker, you'll also need to get your tires rotated. You should be sure to take your car to a facility to get serviced for this task. Though you may not notice the effects of putting off this maintenance task right away, it's still essential to your car's performance.
If you don't rotate your tires at the recommended intervals, you'll risk uneven wear. What happens when your tires have uneven wear? The lifespan of your tires drastically decreases, which means that you'll have to pay to get them replaced much sooner than normal. Plus, when you rotate your tires regularly, it'll make your driving experience smoother and safer.
Every 15,000 Miles
For those wondering, "How often should I service my Honda car?", at the 15,000-mile marker, you'll need to do some more maintenance tasks on your vehicle. Some of the tasks include an oil filter change, a brake inspection, and a fluid check.
Much like oil changes, it's essential to regularly change your oil filter. If you don't change it often, it can get clogged. When that happens, oil won't be able to reach your engine, which can mean big issues down the road, such as engine failure.
Brake inspections are important for obvious reasons. If your brakes fail while driving, it could jeopardize your safety, as well as your passengers and others on the road. That's why it's crucial to get your brakes checked before it becomes a dangerous problem.
At an inspection, a mechanic will take a look at your whole braking system to ensure that everything is in working order. Commonly, certain parts of your braking system wear down over time, particularly the brake pads. If the pads wear out, it can cause significant damage to your rotor, which means costly repairs.
At this time, you should also be sure to get all of your fluids checked. If your fluids are not at the proper levels, you risk your car breaking down or expensive damage. Some of the fluids that need to be checked include transmission fluid, engine coolant, brake fluid, steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.
Every 30,000 Miles
If you're thinking about less common maintenance tasks than oil changes, you might be wondering "How often should I service my Honda car?". While these tasks don't need to be performed as frequently as others, it's still crucial to follow the recommended schedule to ensure that your car runs properly. After driving your vehicle for 30,000 miles, you'll have to consider tasks such as spark plug replacement and a belt inspection/adjustment.
Replacing your spark plug is a preventative maintenance task. When spark plugs become old or worn can lead to poor performance, low gas mileage, and even engine failure. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid the hassle of dealing with damage and expensive repairs.
Another essential component to your car running smoothly is the drive belt. You'll need to get your belt checked and adjusted if necessary. Sometimes, the tension of the belt can be off, which can lead to squeaky noises, which lets you know that it needs to be adjusted or replaced. However, if you don't replace the belt in time and it breaks, a lot of systems in your vehicle will shut down. Because of this, there are many things that will go wrong, including complete engine failure. If your belt breaks, you'll likely face a lot of money in repairs.
Every 45,000 Miles
You'll need to fully replace your engine coolant and brake fluids at this time. Both of these fluids are critical to the performance and health of your car. If you don't replace these fluids, you'll likely face serious and expensive problems with your engine and brake system.
For those wondering, "How often should I service my Honda car?" the answer varies. You'll need to follow the manufacturer's instructions in your owner's manual for the most accurate information. However, in general, it's best to follow a schedule depending on the task. Some maintenance tasks will need to be performed often, while others you won't need to worry about regularly. If your Honda car needs maintenance work, head to our dealership in Miami for service.