Most people have heard the vehicle maintenance schedule advice of getting your oil changed every 3,000 - 6,000 miles or 3 - 6 months along with factory maintenance recommendations at 30,000/60,000 & 90,000 miles, however there are many factors that contribute to your schedule, including driving habits, mileage, oil type, manufacturer recommendations and more. What everyone can agree on, is that following the right vehicle maintenance schedule is important, so let’s cut through some of the noice to find out what’s best for your vehicle.
TIME VS MILES
The reason there are so many heated opinions on the matter is because the answer isn’t straightforward. Vehicles sustain a wide variety of wear and tear, and while some components are used more than others (oil, tires, wipers, air filters, etc.), the truth is that nothing on a car really lasts forever. Most parts wear out and eventually break down with use. As an example, every time you apply the brakes, you’re one step closer to needing new pads and, eventually, rotors. On the other hand, some things are actually more prone to go wrong when you use them less. Cars traveling under 10 miles a day will experience difficulties associated with an engine and a transmission that never fully reach operating temperature. A battery left to sit for months in a garage will discharge and suffer a shortened life span. You get the idea.
BEING PROACTIVE HELPS
A common misconception regarding the auto repair industry is that they perform unnecessary maintenance, but that’s the point. The whole purpose of preventative maintenance is to, well, prevent major service problems down the road. For example, it’s a good idea to change the timing belt while it’s still intact instead of waiting for it to break and possibly cause catastrophic engine failure. There are a host of factors that play a role in determining the difference between a welltimed service and an unnecessary one:
DRIVING HABITS
Cars that regularly drive on a highway for more than 15 miles at a time need to be serviced less frequently than vehicles that only drive short distances in freezing cold weather while towing a heavy load.
MATERIAL QUALITY This covers everything from how wellmanufactured the car is, to its age, to the type of replacement parts you choose. Synthetic oil will take you a lot farther than conventional oil, and an engine with 200,000 miles on it will need much more attention than a newer motor.
WARRANTY
While it may seem like manufacturers ask you to perform more than necessary services, they do so as a way of assuring you will keep the vehicle in the best shape. Choosing to skip a service could become an issue later on. The best advice when it comes to basing vehicle maintenance on time or mileage is simple: follow whichever comes first, the months, or the mileage discussed with your service advisor. At Auto Select, our parts and service come with a minimum of 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty, and in some cases, up to a lifetime warranty. A key piece of good maintenance and peace of mind is partnering with a mechanic or shop you trust, and creating a maintenance a schedule with us. You should always keep an eye on things like tires which can wear out without regard to roadtime, but creating and sticking to a service log will go a long way to keeping your car on the road.
For more information on setting up a vehicle maintenance schedule, chat with your knowledgeable service advisor at Auto Select.