The Car Maintenance Schedule You Should Follow

by Stephanie Wallcraft

Following a regular car maintenance schedule is very important for keeping your vehicle in peak working condition. Regular maintenance extends the life of your car and keeps it safer. It also improves your vehicle’s resale value if can prove the work has been done when it’s time to sell.

For most aspects of maintaining a car, Canadians can follow a similar schedule to the rest of the world. However, our rough roads and extreme climate means there are a few things we need to do differently. Seasonal tire changes and salted roads add a few extra steps to our checklist.

Here’s a look at a car maintenance checklist designed for Canadians, including recommended kilometre intervals for various maintenance jobs.

The Car Maintenance Schedule Checklist You Should Follow

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Following the Manufacturer's Schedule

Your car’s owner’s manual contains scheduled maintenance and service interval advice. Those figures are specific to your vehicle and override any estimates provided here. It’s important to be familiar with and follow the manufacturer’s schedule, especially if your vehicle is still under warranty. If you neglect important maintenance and need to make a claim, it could be denied. The schedule below is therefore best viewed as a general guideline.

Oil Changes

Check your engine oil levels once per month. This is an easy DIY job. To do this, start when the engine is cool. Grab a clean rag and pop the hood. The oil tank is marked with a universal symbol. Unscrew the cap and lift the dipstick out. Wipe it clean on the rag to ensure you’re getting an accurate reading. Dip the stick back into the tank and remove it again to inspect it. The fluid level in your oil tank should fall within the level marked on the stick. If it doesn’t, your engine may be leaking or burning excess oil. Keep these levels topped up and talk to a mechanic if it becomes a persistent issue.
On average, it’s a good rule of thumb to have your oil changed every 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres, or every six months. However, if you frequently tow, drive on a track, experience extreme heat, or commute in stop-and-go traffic, it’s wise to shorten that interval to 5,000 kilometres or three months. Some types of vehicles (such as some hybrids) can go as long as 16,000 kilometres or a full year between oil changes. Do this only on the manufacturer’s advice. Have your oil filter changed with every second oil change.
Should you use conventional or synthetic oil? Conventional oil is made from crude oil, while synthetic oil is made from artificially created chemical compounds. Synthetic oil is slower to break down and flows better, but using it doesn’t mean you can get oil changes less often. Some cars require synthetic oil, but it’s optional in any vehicle and can be helpful in Canada for faster oil flow during starts in cold weather. But synthetic oil is more expensive, so it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the extra expense if your car doesn’t require it.

Tire Pressures

Visually inspect your tires regularly for damage. It’s a good habit to do a visual walkaround inspection of your vehicle once per week.
Check the tread depths monthly by taking a quarter with a caribou on it and inserting it between your tire treads nose side down. If the caribou’s nose doesn’t touch the tread, your tires don’t have enough tread on them and need to be replaced.
Improper tire pressure can cause poor handling, premature tire wear, and reduced fuel efficiency. If your vehicle doesn’t have a tire pressure monitoring system, check the tire pressures monthly. You can do this by taking it to a gas station and using an air pump with a built-in pressure gauge. If you prefer, you can buy and use your own gauge. Your tire pressure should match the guidelines provided by your car’s manufacturer, not the figures printed on the tire.

All-Season and Winter Tires

Using all-season or summer tires during the warmer months and winter tires in the colder months is important almost everywhere in Canada. If you live in a place where the average daytime temperature dips below 7 degrees Celsius, the rubber compound in winter tires will give you improved grip on all surfaces. It’s also important to take your winter tires off during the summer months as they’ll wear much faster at higher temperatures. You’ll therefore get more life out of both sets of tires by doing this seasonal tire change. Some drivers get around this by choosing all-weather tires, which are designed to be left on year-round. These don’t grip as well in snow but may be suitable for people who drive exclusively in cities.

Tire Rotation and Alignment

Tire rotation helps ensure tread wear is even among all four tires in a set. Rotate tires every 10,000 to 13,000 kilometres, or roughly every six months. Consider this another reason to do seasonal tire changes. If the tires are off the car to rotate them, they may as well be changed at the same time!
Unless something happens such as a hard hit to a curb, you should have your wheels aligned every two to three years. This will help reduce tire wear and improve your car’s handling performance.

Brake Inspection and Service

Your brakes may be worn if you hear a squealing, squeaking, or grinding sound while braking. Vibration through the pedal or reduced braking performance are other signs to look for. When these things happen, a brake pad is worn out and the brakes are grinding into the rotors. It’s important to have your brakes checked and repaired as soon as possible. On average, your brake pads and rotors can be expected to last for about 70,000 to 80,000 kilometres, but this can vary widely.
Even if these signs aren’t present, you should have your brakes inspected at every tire rotation, or every six months.
Road salt, over time, can cause corrosion on a vehicle’s underbody, including the brake systems. It’s important to rinse the underside of your vehicle regularly during the winter by going through a car wash with an underbody spray. This will reduce ‌harmful salt build-up and delay the resulting corrosion. Owners of vehicles that are a few years old may also wish to consider anti-corrosion treatments.

Fluid Checks and Replacements

Transmission fluid change timelines depend on the type of transmission in your vehicle. An automatic transmission may have a recommended fluid change interval of 50,000 to 100,000 kilometres on average. A manual transmission typically has a shorter recommended interval somewhere in the 40,000 to 70,000 kilometre range.
The engine cooling system should be flushed and coolant replaced every five years or 100,000 kilometres.
Brake fluid should be changed every two to three years or roughly 50,000 kilometres.
Power steering fluid should be changed every two to three years or roughly 50,000 kilometres.

Battery Maintenance

Expect that your car battery will need replacing every three to five years, or roughly 60,000 to 100,000 kilometres.
There are signs to watch for that your battery is getting weaker and is nearing the end of its life. Your car’s engine may need multiple tries or may be slower to start. The battery case may be visibly expanded, and the connectors may be corroded or you may smell a foul odor. The most obvious sign you may have an issue is if the battery light illuminates on your dashboard.
In a cold climate, your battery needs to work harder due to low temperatures and issues like poor oil lubrication and flow. Expect to replace your battery more often if you regularly endure frigid conditions. Choosing a synthetic oil may help with this, and using a block heater may help as well.

Filter Changes

Expect to replace your engine air filter and cabin air filter every 20,000 kilometres or once annually. You may need to change these more frequently if you regularly drive on dusty roads where they will collect more contaminants.
Your fuel filter will need to be replaced roughly every two years or 40,000 kilometres on average.

Belts and Hoses Inspection

The various hoses and belts in your vehicle will wear at different rates. Once your car is past roughly 60,000 kilometres or three years of ownership, it’s a good idea to have components like the timing belt, serpentine belt, and other hoses and belts inspected annually.

Suspension and Steering Components Inspection

Once your vehicle hits four to five years of age, wear and corrosion can begin to affect suspension and steering components. Have them inspected annually after this interval, or every 80,000 to 100,000 kilometres.

Spark Plug Changes

Spark plug life can vary significantly from one vehicle to the next. On average, expect to need a new set every 100,000 kilometres. Higher quality spark plugs may last longer, while higher-powered engines may require more frequent changes.

Exhaust System Inspection

Catalytic converters will last 10 years or longer and should only be changed when necessary. How frequently the rest of your exhaust system will need maintenance depends on the vehicle, the exhaust’s configuration, and how you drive. It should be looked at as part of an annual inspection.

Windshield Wiper Blades Replacement

Windshield wiper blades need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. If you time this with your seasonal tire changes, it’s easy to remember. If you drive an SUV or hatchback, don’t forget the rear wiper!

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Additional Maintenance Tips for Canadian Drivers

Preparing for seasonal changes

It’s a smart idea to give your car a once-over as winter approaches to ensure it's ready. Here’s a quick checklist of the steps to complete each year to get your car ready for winter:

  • Book a seasonal tire change, oil change, and inspection. Check the tire pressures as the temperature drops to ensure they remain within recommended levels. Don’t forget to return to your mechanic after driving for 100 kilometres to have the wheels retorqued to ensure they’re secure on your vehicle.
  • Change your windshield washer fluid to winter formulation. Keep a spare bottle in your vehicle.
  • Install a new set of windshield wiper blades.
  • Put a snow brush and scraper in your vehicle.
  • Change from summer to winter floor mats.
  • Top up your winter safety kit and put it in your trunk for emergencies. This should include a first aid kit, jumper cables, a blanket or extra warm clothing, matches and a candle, non-perishable foods like granola bars or protein bars, bottled water, a flashlight and batteries, roadside flares or reflective triangles, a folding shovel, and a bag of sand or cat litter.
  • If you use a block heater, ensure it’s in working order.

Here’s how to convert your car for the summer season:

  • Book a seasonal tire change, oil change, and inspection. Check the pressures as the temperature rises to ensure they remain within recommended levels. Don’t forget to return to your mechanic after driving for 100 kilometres to have the wheels retorqued to ensure they’re secure on your vehicle.
  • Change your windshield washer fluid to summer formulation.
  • Install a new set of windshield wiper blades.
  • If you prefer, take your snow brush and scraper out of your vehicle and put them in storage.
  • Change from winter to summer floor mats, and scrub any salt out of the upholstery to prevent damage.
  • Take your car through a car wash with an underbody spray to kick loose any residual salt from winter roads. If it’s due, take your car in for a rustproofing treatment.
  • If you prefer, pare down your emergency kit. It’s still a good idea to have most items listed above in your car in case of an emergency, but the folding shovel and a bag of sand or cat litter can go into storage for a few months.

Protecting your car from rust and corrosion

Rustproofing is a touchy topic. It’s true that the annual salt dump on Canadian roads can cause corrosion in a vehicle that’s prone to it, and the problem can get nasty very quickly. Many Canadians swear by an annual rustproofing treatment as contributing to the longevity of their vehicles.
On the other hand, new vehicles are built with more resilient materials these days. Rustproofing is not necessary on a new car, and the factory rustproofing that modern cars come with will last for years, possibly even the lifetime of the vehicle.
Our advice falls in between. We recommend washing your car’s underbody regularly each winter and annual rustproofing treatments after it’s been on the road for five to six years. The undercarriage spray style of rustproofing is generally understood to be the best and most effective option. (Be wary of those electronic rust proofing modules. Their effectiveness hasn’t been conclusively proven.) Get your car's underbody cleaned and then have the treatment applied in the spring or summer. You’re more likely to have a long streak of good weather during these months that will help it settle undisturbed.

Addressing issues caused by extreme cold

The extreme cold we regularly experience in Canada can have adverse effects on your car that are unique to our climate. Colder temperatures mean tire pressures drop and need to be monitored regularly during the winter months. Wiper blades can become brittle and more prone to cracking or tearing. Other rubber components like seals and belts may become more brittle as well and should be inspected regularly. Batteries have to work harder and can be more prone to early failure, so they should be checked on often as well. Oil thickens in colder temperatures, which can be aided somewhat by choosing synthetic oil. Any moisture that may collect in your fuel lines can freeze and cause damage, so experts recommend keeping your tank half-full at all times during the winter.

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Conclusion

By following the routine car maintenance schedule checklist outlined in this article, you can extend the lifespan of your vehicle. Consistent and diligent car care will keep your car running efficiently and safety, avert untimely breakdowns, and save you from much more expensive problems down the road. A well-maintained vehicle is also worth more when it comes time to sell, provided you retain your service records. No matter how you look at it, proper vehicle maintenance is a great decision to ensure its optimal performance, safety, and longevity for the Canadian market.

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Stephanie Wallcraft is a multiple award-winning professional automotive journalist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In addition to CarGurus Canada, her byline has appeared in major Canadian publications including Toronto Star Wheels, Driving.ca, and AutoTrader.ca, among others. She is a Past President of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and was named 2024 Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year.

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