[retiredguy123]

Call me crazy, but, for the last 40 years or so, I have ignored the manufacturer's recommended routine maintenance schedule for the vehicles I have owned, except for motor oil changes. Also, I never use a dealer for anything except a warranty issue. I always buy new vehicles and never drive them more than 80-100K miles. I have not had any significant repair problems. Do you adhere to the maintenance schedule, and do you think that it is money well spent?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Call me crazy, but, for the last 40 years or so, I have ignored the manufacturer's recommended routine maintenance schedule for the vehicles I have owned, except for motor oil changes. Also, I never use a dealer for anything except a warranty issue. I always buy new vehicles and never drive them more than 80-100K miles. I have not had any significant repair problems. Do you adhere to the maintenance schedule, and do you think that it is money well spent?

You know more than I do about engines but for me, I pretty much go by the maintenance schedule especially for changing oil as I want a mechanic to give my car a good look so as to prevent problems in the future

[dewilson58]

First, Crazy.

Second, I do not follow very closely.

[MDLNB]

I have two FREE services per year, for five years so I have no problem taking my car to the dealer, even though I have very low mileage. That way, I make sure it gets washed at least twice a year, ha,ha.

[Topspinmo]

I do all my maintenance based on conditions. I never every exceeded the oil change intervals. As far as scheduling recommendations I determine based conditions of fluid and environment the vehicle in. On my present car with 71K miles and 12 years old, I’ve changed antifreeze, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid not based on miles but time and condition.

I change my battery here in Florida around 5 year mark if it last that long based on evaluation of battery with Ancel BST200 analyze and I can hear the car winding slower when starting knowing the battery getting week.

I worked on cars, heavy equipment, tractors, aircraft engines, lawnmowers, motorcycles, I seen it all.
IMO you HAVE to At least check oil monthly and change oil every year regardless of miles, but that me, I know what it does to insides of engines. If you plan on keeping car for well over the average I suggest you don’t follow maintenance schedules or oil manufacturers recommendations, but base it on conditions. I have to ask why do you trade at 80K? Most vehicles now days will go over 300K miles with limited preventative maintenance? Once most new vehicle leaves lot it drops dramatically in valve every year for first 5 years after that it levels off IMO.

[Decadeofdave]

2 items I check and maintain properly, blinker fuid and knuter valve replacement.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

I do all my maintenance based on conditions. I never every exceeded the oil change intervals. As far as scheduling recommendations I determine based conditions of fluid and environment the vehicle in. On my present car with 71K miles and 12 years old, I’ve changed antifreeze, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid not based on miles but time and condition.

I change my battery here in Florida around 5 year mark if it last that long based on evaluation of battery with Ancel BST200 analyze and I can hear the car winding slower when starting knowing the battery getting week.

I worked on cars, heavy equipment, tractors, aircraft engines, lawnmowers, motorcycles, I seen it all.
IMO you HAVE to At least check oil monthly and change oil every year regardless of miles, but that me, I know what it does to insides of engines. If you plan on keeping car for well over the average I suggest you don’t follow maintenance schedules or oil manufacturers recommendations, but base it on conditions. I have to ask why do you trade at 80K? Most vehicles now days will go over 300K miles with limited preventative maintenance? Once most new vehicle leaves lot it drops dramatically in valve every year for first 5 years after that it levels off IMO.

300,000 miles? At 7,500 miles per year, I would be driving a 40-year old vehicle. I think it makes more sense to replace a car more often to take advantage of the newer safety features.

[Ecuadog]

Originally Posted by Decadeofdave

2 items I check and maintain properly, blinker fuid and knuter valve replacement.

I had my car knutered.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Decadeofdave

2 items I check and maintain properly, blinker fuid and knuter valve replacement.

Better check your muffler bearing due from lack of lubrication and change that old air in your tires.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by Ecuadog

I had my car knutered.

My dog got out and spent the night away from home. When he returned my wife took him to the vet to get him fixed. I told her I thought that was kinda extreme and that he was just sowing his seed as nature intended.

She looked me square in the eyes and said if I go running around she'd do the same to me.

[CarlR33]

It all depends on the routine maintenance that I would consider as“needed”. Fuel injector cleaning, no. Coolant flush, yes. Just saying.

[PJ_Smiley]

When my daughter got married, I did not lose a daughter. I gained a mechanic. Win! Win!