Anyone who purchases a new or used car has every intention of getting the most out of

their vehicle. Among other things, this means keeping it in drivable condition for as long as
possible, or at least until they can upgrade to a car that has better features and capabilities.
Yet many car owners simply don’t take the measures necessary to maximize the lifespan of
their vehicle, and, as a result, they encounter serious mechanical problems that could have
been avoided with a little preventative maintenance.

To tout the virtues of preventative maintenance is to make a claim that few people would
disagree with—after all, we’ve all heard the old saying that an ounce of prevention beats a
pound of cure. In practice, however, many people let things slide. Part of the problem is the
understandable human urge to hold on to their money, but preventative maintenance
doesn’t cost a substantial amount of money—and it pays off in the long term by averting
more expensive bills down the road.

Having said that, we’re left with the obvious question: What should your preventative auto
maintenance program include? What exactly needs to be done to ensure that your car will
remain road-ready? Below we’ll list some suggestions that have been widely shown to be
highly effective in promoting good car health.