Preventive Maintenance

[chefwong]

Just curious to see what other items are on your preventative maintence list -

Coolant/Brake Fluids - 2 years
Fuel Filter - ??
Water Pump - 60K

BMW specs their ATF & differential fluid to be *lifetime* but I'm thinking possibly along the lines of doing at at the 60K mark ( I'll be out of warranty) and I'll have the spark plugs done & misc hoses, etc done at the same time.

 

[ChrisW]

I replace the fuel filter about every 10k-30k or so. They are cheap enough.

Sparks, once every year depending on whether they are coppers or platinums. On the Audi, I change them every 30K since they are copper and about $6 ea. Hondas I chage every year since they are copper and only $2 a plug.

 

[JHZR2]

use castrol xj 75w-140 fluid, or redline of the same weight in your diff, changed fairly often, otherwise you could notice diff whine, especially in LSD units.

JMH

 

[oldman]

Don't forget the cabin filters and the big air filters under the hood, if you have them.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

coolant 3 years
brake fluid 100,000 miles
fuel filter 200,000 miles
air filter 30-40000 miles
pcv 100,000
power steering fluid 100,000
trans fluid auto 30,000
trans fluid manual 100,000
rear end fluid 100,000
spark plugs 30,000 copper 100,000 platinum
hoses 100,000
belts 100,000 incl timming belts
radiator 200,000
water pump 200,000
This works well for cars that I normally go to 250,000 to 300,000 miles Mercedes,Toyotas and Hondas.

 

[moribundman]

Here is what I check every other time I gas up:

- check oil
- check PS fluid
- peek at brake fluid reservoir
- peek a expansion tank
- peek at all coolant hoses, etc
- check tires


Once a month:

- top off washer fluid
- check and correct tire pressure


Here's what I do every 6 months:

- check for codes with VAG-COM
- test coolant
- check exhaust: clamps, hangers, rust
- check for oil leaks: engine, transmission/axle shafts, rear differential
- check timing belt and accessory belt
- pull spark plugs
- check shocks for leaks
- check all boots
- check tie rods
- check brakes: booster, pads, rotors, lines, fluid
- check all electric systems, fuse box
- check seat belt mechanism
- graphite powder lube for door locks


Once a year:

- everything from above
- replace air and pollen filter
- remove plenum and clean it
- remove throttle body and clean it
- clean EGR passage
- remove and inspect MAF sensor
- check ICV resistance
- touch up undercoating where necessary
- touch up chipped areas
- grease all door/hood/trunk lid hinges and latches
- check water in the battery
- reset ECU

Every 2 years:

- everything from above
- replace all vac hoses
- replace brake fluid


Every 80k miles or lately every 4 years:

- replace timing belt
- replace accessory belt
- replace thermostat
- replace waterpump
- change transmission fluid and rear differential gear oil

The one thing I haven't changed yet is the fuel filter. That thing is huge, so I suspect it really might last a very long time. We'll see, the **** thing is not easy to get to.

I'm sure I forgot some stuff.

 

[eljefino]

I pick up my vehicles well used (over 100k) so I play catch up: Oil, antifreeze, tire pressure, air filter immediately. Spark plugs and manual transmission fluid within two weeks, and usually a set of OE wires. Then:

Sparks every 20-25k (copper)
Oil/filter/lube every 3k (excessive, I know)
Tire rotation once a year, or longer (whenever.)
fuel filter when things get boggy
air filter 25-35k
Clean inside windows every 6 months, clean/vacuum once a year.
Tire pressure once a month or better.
oil level checked twice a month or better.
Antifreeze (cheap old school stuff) 3-4 years or when system opened for other reasons

Timing belts ignored on the sub-$1000 category. Dodge 2.5 has a nice easy inspection cover though, so I checked. It was fine.

 

[srivett]

Cavaliers need their throttle bodies tightened down regularly. They get really loose and suck air.

Steve

 

[ALS]

I go a little over board when it comes to maintanance. Once a year (May) I change out the transmission fluid, differential fluid, brake fluid and coolant. I also replace all the plugs, fuel filter, cap, rotor, air filter and belts.
Every other year I replace the wires and thermostat. I change the oil every 5,000 miles with a OEM filter and M1. And once a year in November I drop the car off to my body guy to go over the complete car bumper to bumper and fix any small rust spots and touch up any nicks he finds. 317,500 miles and still going strong.

 

[Arup]

Thats what I call true airplane spec maintenance, your vehicle will probably outlast everyone else's here.

Do you think changing the thermostat every two years makes a difference, the reason I ask is that I havent changed mine since the last seven years as my temps have remained steady.

 

[labman]

I have had a lot of bad luck with new thermostats. I don't think I would replace a working 2 year old stat. One day soon I am doing both hoses, antifreeze and stat in my 77 truck, I think the second time for the stat, maybe third.

I think I have mostly bought Stants because that is mostly what you find.

 

[ALS]

I hate when something stupid breaks just when you need it most. That's why I change the belts so often as well as the thermostat. That reminds me the radiator and heater hoses are coming up on 36K so I'll have to replace them in May. Things are going to wear out and break or need replaced over time and you can go nuts trying to figure out what will go and when. How many times have you driven on the highway and seen a car with the hood up steam pouring out. How much is an aluminum head worth compared to a set of belts and hoses every 36K miles? What is it going to cost to get your car towed off the interstate while on vacation to replace a busted alternator belt? Just something to think about when working on the car. I put on between 25K and 30K miles a year on my car so my maintanance schedual really is close to a normal 30K service that Volvo recommends.

 

[sprintman]

Brake fluid annually, coolant when it's loses the sparkly neon green colour.

 

[moribundman]

Oh yeah, didn't I say I probably forgot something? Coolant gets replaced each time the waterpump and thermostat get replaced, or every 4 years, whichever occurs first.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Arup:

Do you think changing the thermostat every two years makes a difference, the reason I ask is that I haven't changed mine since the last seven years as my temps have remained steady.

---

Arup. I agree with Labman. If your thermostat is working, it's life expectancy isn't much differant than a new one. I would consider replacing it if I had to drain the cooling system for some other reason.

 

[TallPaul]

I would only replace the water pump if it is leaking. My experience is when the bearing is starting to go it will leak. Usually that gives you plenty of time to arrange for the repair. If you change coolant every two years or more frequent, I would expect the water pump may last well over 100,000 miles, perhaps closer to 200,000.

 

[John K]

I remember when I was driving a 68 Volvo 144, just over 6 months old and the thermostat froze shut when I was doing about 70 mph. I pulled over as soon as I noticed the pegged temp gauge, and pulled the thermostat, added water and went on my way. #4 cylinder was slapping bad, and I had to rebuild. The warrenty was only 6 months back then. Seems then that Volvo water pumps would go out about every 60k... And the water pump bypass hose used to fail relatively often, hardly ever hear of it anymore. My daughter's 94 Subaru Legacy overheated about a year ago and it was due to the bypass hoses. Major problem getting to them, cost over $1000.... Still running.
All I'm saying is that some brands require modifying schedules and experience is a great teacher. Does seems that todays cars are very tolerant of little or no maintenance though.
John

 

[John K]

ALS - what are you driving that has 317,000 miles on it? I have never gotten much over 200K, usually due to rust or I tire of driving one vehicle that long...

 

[Schmoe]

Moribundman.....you got a spreadsheet checklist or something? That's a lot of stuff to remember. I can't even remember what happen last night...well....that might have been the Michelob's fault...

 

[Pwoon]

For Tundra truck owners - throttle body cleaning should be done as well.