A: For a long time and sometimes still today, standard practice at many lube shops is to suggest oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles. In order to know when the best time to get your oil changed is, check the owner’s manual of your specific model for manufacturer-recommended intervals.

A: Yes. Most leases require that regular scheduled preventative maintenance be performed, so if you have this done by a third party shop, be sure to keep records. If you were to turn the vehicle in with an indicator light on saying that the car is overdue for maintenance and you can’t prove that the work was done, you may be charged at the end of your lease.

A: Unfortunately, in most cases, there are no obvious signs the timing belt is near death; it will just break. That’s why highly rated auto mechanics recommend replacing it every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Always check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations.

A: A vehicle with a battery that has been jumped should be allowed to run for 20 minutes if possible. This will let the alternator fully charge the battery. If your battery continues to lose a charge, contact a mechanic to diagnose the problem.

A: The tread on your tires should never fall below 1/16 of an inch in depth. If you regularly drive on slick surfaces, twice as much is better. You can buy a gauge to measure the tread depth or there’s an old trick that will give you a rough idea of how much tread depth you have left and it won’t cost you more than a penny.

Take a Lincoln-head penny, and insert Abe’s head (head-down) into the tread. If Lincoln’s entire head remains visible, it’s time to replace your tires to keep you and your family safe.