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It is great when vehicle owners routinely change the oil. But what else requires maintenance? Vehicles owners rarely check their owner’s manual to see the full list of required maintenance. There are a bunch of manufacturers that don’t even supply an owner’s manual in paper form anymore. It has become common place for the owner’s manual to be supplied online and not with the vehicle. When you take your car to the dealership and a maintenance menu is given to you, how do you know it is correct? If you don’t understand the maintenance items described in your owner’s manual, all you can do is assume the dealership knows what is best for your car. Yes, the dealership understands the maintenance required on your vehicle. The dealership also understands that they are in business for a profit. Hopefully here we can look at what maintenance is needed and what services can be viewed as overselling.
Regular brake fluid changes are perhaps one of the most important maintenance items on any list. Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid and will lose its hydraulic capabilities from heat, moisture and contaminates. Heat from the brake calipers will break down your brake fluid over time. Temperature fluctuations cause condensation and moisture to build in the brake lines. Moisture in the brake fluid will collect contaminates and air pockets. Air pockets in any hydraulic fluid can cause the hydraulic system to react slower or worse. Most auto manufacturers recommend brake fluid to be changed every 3 to 5 years regardless of mileage.
Coolant or Antifreeze is vital to any engine to control the temperature of the engine so other components don’t get damaged. Engines produce heat and over time with engines heating up and cooling down, the coolant will start to lose its ability to cool the engine. On the other side to that, if you’re in an area that has outside temperatures below freezing for months at time, coolant will lose its antifreeze capabilities as it breaks down. It is very common to see coolant changes suggested an 60,000 miles or 5 years. Some manufacturers use a coolant that doesn’t require changing until 100,000 miles or 8 years.
Transmission fluid can be confusing to understand service intervals. By rule of thumb, most all transmission fluids should be changed every 30,000 miles or 3 years. Where things get confusing is the recommendation for a transmission fluid flush. Flushing the transmission fluid is done using a machine that pushes fluid through the transmission with pressure. The problem is when the wrong amount of pressure is sent through certain parts of the transmission it will damage the transmission and cause a handful of problems that can be avoided. In today’s vehicles automatic transmission fluid flushes should never be performed. Automatic transmission fluids contain detergents to keep contaminates away from internal components. If the automatic transmission fluid is black in color, you could have bigger issues with the transmission.
If you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle or a 4-wheel drive vehicle you will need to change the fluids in the Transfer Case, Front Differential (if separate from the transmission), and Rear Differential. These fluids are generally gear oil. Much thicker than engine oil. Gear oil will also break down from regular use and temperature fluctuations. The differential or transfer case housing can and will collect condensation from temperature fluctuations especially in the winter months. Most owner’s manuals, I have read, have an interval on the fluids anywhere from 25,000 to 45,000 miles with the majority of them needing fluid changes at 30,000 miles.
Filters are the easiest go to for any repair shop. Air filters and Cabin air filters are treated as conditional based replacement items. Meaning if they look dirty, replace them. My recommendation for replacement of every 2 years at minimum. Plugged up or dirty air filters will cause lower than normal air flow readings to sensors causing performance issues. Cabin air filters may need to be changed a little more frequently. Cabin air filters directly affect the air you breathe in your vehicle. Replaceable fuel filters are not in every vehicle today. The biggest majority of vehicles, with gas engines, have a screen in the fuel tank and is not a serviceable fuel filter. Check your owner’s manual to see if you have a fuel filter that needs serviced. Diesel engines usually have 2 filters. One main fuel filter and the second one is considered more of a fuel water separator.
Some other items I’ve seen listed in the maintenance schedule of owner’s manuals are Wiper blades. Wipers will last, at best, 1 year. More often than not wipers start streaking after 6 months unless you’re in extremely hot or cold climates where you might get 3 months out of them. Hood struts or Tailgate struts have been listed with intervals of 75,000 miles or 10 years. Apparently, some manufacturers are looking out for your well-being, so a hood doesn’t come crashing down on you. Engines with timing belts usually show in an owner’s manual around 100,000 miles. Alternator belts, A/C drive belts, or Power steering belts commonly known as a serpentine belt very rarely have a service interval listed in owner’s manuals. At most it says check belts. Serpentine belts are rubber and fiber and will stretch over time. My recommendation for these belts is replace them every 60,000 miles or 5 years. In the bigger picture of maintenance serpentine belts are reasonably priced to replace and its one less thing that can leave you stranded on the side of the road.
Like most things in life, if you take care of it, it will last a very long time. Automobiles are no different. Depending on your vehicle, the above maintenance items can get costly. But how much does it cost to have a break down and to have your vehicle towed into the repair shop for repairs due to lack of maintenance. Understanding your vehicle’s maintenance needs will give you the ability to plan and budget for these expenses. To me it’s better to budget and plan for expenses than having to scramble to have repairs done. At the end of the day the care and upkeep of your vehicle is all up to you. Paying attention to your vehicle’s maintenance needs will allow you to enjoy your vehicle for a long time.