Basic Car Maintenance Every Driver Should Understand

You don't need to be a mechanic to look after your car well. But a basic understanding of what needs checking, when, and why makes a real difference to the long-term reliability and running cost of any vehicle. Most of what matters is straightforward — and neglecting it is almost always more expensive than staying on top of it.

This guide covers the maintenance items that have the most impact, explained in plain terms for drivers who want to understand their vehicle without necessarily wanting to work on it themselves.

Engine Oil: The Most Important Fluid in Your Car

Engine oil lubricates the moving parts inside your engine, reduces friction and heat, and carries contaminants away from internal surfaces to be filtered out. Over time and mileage, oil degrades — it breaks down chemically, becomes less effective at lubrication, and accumulates fine particles that the filter can't remove indefinitely.

The result of running on old, degraded oil is increased engine wear. This doesn't cause immediate failure in most cases, but it accumulates — engines that have been regularly serviced on time typically last significantly longer than those that haven't.

How often should you change your oil?

This depends on your vehicle's engine, the type of oil it uses, and how the car is driven. As a general guide:

• Mineral oil: typically every 5,000–7,500 km, or annually
• Semi-synthetic oil: typically every 7,500–10,000 km
• Full synthetic oil: typically every 10,000–15,000 km, depending on the manufacturer's specification

The manufacturer's recommended interval is published in your vehicle handbook. If you've lost yours, the information is usually available online for your specific make, model, and year. When in doubt, shorter intervals are safer than longer ones.

Checking your oil level

Most vehicles have a dipstick that allows you to check the oil level between services. With the engine cold (or after it's been sitting for at least a few minutes), pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, reinsert it fully, then pull it out again. The oil level should sit between the minimum and maximum markers. If it's below the minimum, the engine needs oil added promptly — running low on oil accelerates wear significantly.

Some newer vehicles don't have a traditional dipstick and instead display oil level through an electronic readout. Check your handbook for the correct procedure.

Tyres: Safety-Critical and Often Overlooked

Tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Their condition directly affects braking distance, handling, aquaplaning resistance in wet conditions, and fuel consumption. Despite this, many drivers check their tyres infrequently — or only when something goes obviously wrong.

Tread depth

The legal minimum tread depth in Spain and most EU countries is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. However, grip — particularly in wet conditions — deteriorates noticeably below 3mm. Many safety organisations recommend replacing tyres at 3mm rather than waiting for the legal limit.

Tread depth can be checked with a dedicated gauge (inexpensive, available at any automotive shop), or using the 1-euro coin method: insert the coin edge into the main groove — if the gold rim is fully visible, the tyre is at or close to the legal minimum.

Tyre pressure

Correct tyre pressure improves fuel economy, extends tyre life, and maintains handling. Under-inflated tyres run hotter, wear more rapidly on the outer edges, and increase stopping distances. Over-inflated tyres wear in the centre and reduce the contact patch with the road.

The correct pressure for your tyres is printed on a sticker inside the driver's door frame, or in the vehicle handbook — not on the tyre itself (that figure is the maximum pressure the tyre can hold). Check pressure monthly, and always check when the tyres are cold, before driving any significant distance.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere over time. As water content increases, the fluid's boiling point decreases — which can lead to brake fade under heavy or repeated use, as the fluid boils and creates compressible vapour in the lines.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing brake fluid every two years, regardless of mileage. It's an inexpensive service item relative to the safety implications of degraded fluid, and is often included as part of a routine service check.

Coolant

Engine coolant does two things: it prevents the engine from overheating by transferring heat to the radiator, and — in climates where temperatures drop below zero — it prevents water in the system from freezing and cracking components. Modern coolant also contains corrosion inhibitors that protect the aluminium and steel components inside the cooling system.

Coolant degrades over time as the inhibitors are depleted. Most manufacturers recommend a coolant change every 2–3 years, or every 50,000–60,000 km. Between changes, check the coolant reservoir level periodically (when the engine is cold) and top up with the correct premixed coolant if needed — never plain water alone.

Air Filters

Your engine has two air filters worth knowing about:

The engine air filter prevents dust and debris from entering the engine. A clogged engine air filter restricts airflow, increases fuel consumption, and can affect performance. It's typically replaced every 15,000–30,000 km, though this varies with driving environment — dusty roads accelerate contamination significantly.

The cabin (pollen) filter filters the air entering the car's ventilation system. A blocked cabin filter reduces airflow from the fans, can contribute to musty smells inside the car, and affects air quality for occupants. It's usually replaced annually or every 15,000–20,000 km.

Spark Plugs

Spark plugs ignite the air-fuel mixture inside each cylinder. Worn spark plugs can cause misfires, rough idling, increased fuel consumption, and reduced performance. Most modern vehicles use iridium or platinum plugs with long service intervals — typically 60,000–100,000 km. Older vehicles or those using standard copper plugs may need them replaced more frequently.

Signs that spark plugs may be due for replacement include rough idling, hesitation when accelerating, or a slight increase in fuel consumption that doesn't have an obvious cause.

Keeping Track: Why a Service Record Matters

Maintaining a clear service record — whether in a physical handbook or through a digital service history from a workshop — has two practical benefits. First, it ensures you know when things were last done, so nothing gets overlooked. Second, a documented service history is a meaningful factor in a vehicle's resale value. A car with verifiable, regular maintenance is worth more and easier to sell than one without records.

At Ribaudos, we document all work carried out and can provide a written service record on request. If you're unsure what's been done to your vehicle recently, we can carry out a service check and multi-point inspection to establish where things currently stand.

When to Have Things Checked Professionally

Some maintenance items are straightforward for any driver to monitor — oil level, tyre pressure and tread depth, washer fluid. Others require a workshop visit: brake fluid replacement, coolant changes, spark plug replacement, and the full service inspections that catch developing problems before they become repairs.

If you're unsure of your vehicle's service history, or if it's been more than a year since a thorough check, a full inspection is a sensible starting point. It gives you a clear picture of where things stand — and what, if anything, needs attention in the near term.

If you have questions about your vehicle's maintenance schedule, or want to book a service check, contact us at Ribaudos Auto Repair in A Coruña. We're happy to discuss what your specific vehicle needs.