Source: Car Care Council and ASA

See if you can find the pattern here: summertime means vacations and an oil change. Fall means football, an oil change and tire rotation. In the winter it's hot cocoa and (you guessed it) an oil change. Springtime reminds us of April showers, an oil change and tire rotation. 

If that exercise prompted you to think about seasonal car maintenance, then you and your car are headed in the right direction. October is National Car Care month, when the Car Care Council encourages motorists not only to winterize their cars, but also to develop the good maintenance habit throughout the year. 

As part of the campaign, National Car Care Month incorporates free vehicle check lanes in participating communities. Previous results: nearly 9 out of 10 failed some portion of the inspection. A closer look reveals that nearly 30 percent failed due to worn belts and hoses. Nearly 32 percent were found to have low or dirty motor oil. Thirty-five percent failed the exhaust emissions test and 59 percent had bald or underinflated tires. 

“These statistics help remind us to change the oil each season and rotate the tires every six months or as recommended in the owner's manual. But preventative maintenance doesn't end there,” says Donna Wagner, Executive Director of the National Car Care Month. "There's wheel alignment, cooling system, brakes and other systems and components needing periodic attention." 

The owner's manual is a good place to start. Some car companies go so far as to break their service recommendations down month by month. The Council suggests reading the owner's manual carefully then keeping track of all maintenance. 

“This can save you time and money,” says Wagner. “If you keep good records you won't duplicate any maintenance procedures. And a well cared for car, with maintenance records to prove it, is worth a lot more in trade than the same car in average condition.”