The most important aspect of car maintenance is regular oil changes; neglecting to change your engine oil periodically can dramatically shorten the life of your engine. The manufacturer’s recommendation in the owner’s manual of your vehicle is your best guideline for how frequently your oil should be changed, but every 3,000 to 5,000 miles is a general rule of thumb. We recommend you also change your engine oil filter at the same time, and almost all mechanics will do this as a matter of course.

Other than changing your engine oil, the first maintenance items for your vehicle should be addressed at about 15,000 miles. Your air filter can significantly affect the fuel economy of your vehicle. Given the high price of gasoline, you can save yourself some money by replacing this relatively inexpensive part every 15,000 miles.