Your vehicle comprises parts with limited lifespans and fluids that degrade over time and require replacement every now and then. Keeping up with regular maintenance means you can stay on top of these routine repairs, whichimproves the reliability of your vehicle and helps you avoid unexpected and costly breakdowns.

This also means enhanced safety for your vehicle. Regular maintenance catches wear on brakes, tires, and steering components. If these issues are neglected for too long, it could lead to dangerous driving conditions.

Regular service visits also become part of your vehicle’s documented history, which used-car buyers will see when evaluating a purchase. A well-documented service history can boost the confidence of potential buyers that they’remaking a sound decision.

Regular maintenance also affects how efficiently your vehicle runs. A poorly maintained vehicle can burn noticeably more fuel than one kept on a consistent schedule, making routine service one of the simplest ways to keep long-term costs down, both at the pump and at your NAPA AUTOPRO service centre.

NAPA AUTOPRO technicians follow four service intervals to ensure your vehicle receives the right level of inspection and repair when it’s needed most.

8,000 km (or 3-4 months)

This is the baseline visit, which may include oil and filter changes, fluid top-ups, a tire pressure check, replacement of any lights or worn wipers, and a visual inspection of belts, steering components, and the suspension.

24,000 km (or 12 months)

This service interval includes everything listed in the 8,000 km (or 3- to 4-month) service interval, plus a road test, tire rotation and balancing, and a first look at the brake system. During the brake check, your technician will also clean and adjust the system. Finally, your technician will swap the engine air filter and cabin air filter if needed.

48,000 km (or 24 months)

This service includes everything listed in the above two service intervals, plus flushing and replacing several fluids, including coolant, transmission, brake, and power steering. Your technician will also inspect the ignition system.

96,000 km (or 48 months)

This is the biggest service visit and may include a replacement of the timing belt and spark plugs, in addition to the services completed in the earlier tiers. Don’t hold off on this service, because your timing belt is a major engine component that can impact your vehicle’s ability to operate if it breaks.

The mileage intervals listed above are a starting point for determining when your vehicle needs a routine maintenance visit. The real schedule recommended to you by your NAPA AUTOPRO technician depends on two things:

• Your vehicle’s owner’s manual: This timing is based on the manufacturer’s own recommendation, which typically lists service intervals both by mileage and time, whichever comes first. Even if you don’t drive often, sticking to the time-based schedule matters just as much as the mileage-based one, since some fluids and components degrade over time regardless of use.

• Driving conditions: Lots of stop-and-go city driving, frequent short trips, and towing place a lot of demand on your vehicle and can speed up the frequency at which you’ll need routine maintenance compared to highway driving. Frequent trips under 20 minutes, extreme heat or cold, and regularly driving on dusty or gravel roads are also conditions that may lead to more frequent service appointments.

The cost of a routine maintenance visit depends on a few factors, including the service interval, the type of vehicle you drive, and the cost of parts and fluids specific to your make and model. An 8,000 km visit will generally cost less than a 96,000 km visit, since more parts and fluids are inspected or replaced at the larger intervals. Your NAPA AUTOPRO technician can give you an accurate estimate for your specific vehicle before any work begins.

Every routine maintenance visit is completed by a certified technician, who follows a consistent checklist to ensure a consistent experience, no matter which NAPA AUTOPRO location you’re at. At the end of your service, you’llreceive a summary report to let you know what was done and what’s coming up next for your vehicle. You can leave confident that your vehicle received the best service possible, from a certified technician you can trust.

With over 600 service locations across Canada, you can trust NAPA AUTOPRO to inspect, diagnose, and service your vehicle.

Whether you’ve reached your next mileage interval, or a new dashboard service light has appeared, find your nearest NAPA AUTOPRO service centre and book your regular maintenance appointment today at napaautopro.com.