Hi all,

My car has been dealer serviced since day 1 and I intend on keeping it that way. Anyway, I had my first maintenance done since I've owned the car in November 06. It was the 40,000 mile maintenance, done at around 39,900 miles. They put a sticker on my car saying I'm due for service at 45,000 miles or 3/07. However, I'm still around 200 miles shy of 43,000. I don't drive much. Should I go in at the end of March or just wait until I hit 45,000? If you guys could explain the reasoning between the options that would be great.

Thanks

 

I've gone in for my changes earlier than the expected mileage, but I 90% of the time will schedule my maintenance by mileage.

 

My opinion is that some things should be done by mileage, others by time, and the rest by whichever elapses first.

Milage: tire rotation, timing belt, spark plugs

Time: coolant replacement (2 years), brake fluid replacement (2 years), wiper blades (1 year if car kept outside, 2 years if car garaged)

Whichever somes first: oil change (6 mo or 5,000 mi), transmission drain and refill (1-2 years or 15-30k mi), cabin and engine air filters (2 years or 15-30k mi)

Other: Power steering fluid (when it looks cloudy or dirty)

Maybe I left a few things out, but those are all I can think of now

 

Maybe it depends on your driving habits or how much you drive the car. I use it everyday so for me I would go by mileage rather than by date.

 

mrurmil, they put the sticker as a reminder but they also assume you drive your vehicle regularly. Their recommendation is every 5k miles or every 3-6 mos. So if you don't use your car on a regular basis just wait til you reach 45k miles. Go to edmunds.com and check maintenance schedule for your car (any car). Most of the maintenance for 15k, 30k, 45k, etc are inspection only. Why pay them for inspection if you could do them yourself. Just my 2 cents.

 

whatever comes first.
-hass

 

Sounds like a good schedule to me
But If you hammer on your brakes all the time the fluid can actually boil, so that will need more frequent attention

 

Remember that they want you to come back often. The 3 month 3k interval is obsolete for most vehicles nowdays.
I change mine every 7500 miles, regardless of the date. 160k and doesn't leak or use any oil between changes.
JimA

 

For my last oil change, I waited til about 7500 miles to get that done since the last change. I must say that after the oil change, my car felt more responsive and quicker when I accelerate. It made me wonder if I should continue to wait 7500 miles between oil changes. Weird, maybe it's cuz I use the thinner synthentic oil during the winter months.