Car maintenance in Lucknow: a service calendar that actually fits the city

Lucknow is hard on cars in three specific ways: fine dust for most of the year, standing water in the monsoon, and traffic that keeps engines idling. A generic service schedule ignores all three.

Every month: check tyre pressure (dust and heat drop it faster than you think), top up coolant and washer fluid, and clean the cabin air filter. A choked filter is the single most common cause of weak AC in this city.

Before the monsoon: inspect wiper blades, test all lights, check door and boot drain holes, and photograph the underbody. Water logging in Alambagh, Aishbagh and parts of Indira Nagar is routine — never restart a car that has stalled in standing water.

After the monsoon: wash the underbody, check for rust at the door sills and spare wheel well, and get the brakes inspected. Wet pads glaze quickly.

Every 10,000 km or 12 months: engine oil and filter, brake fluid check, battery terminals, and wheel alignment. Alignment matters here — the potholes will undo it faster than the manual assumes.

Every 2 years: coolant flush, brake fluid change and AC gas check. Keep every bill. When you sell, a full folder of service records is worth more than any amount of polishing.