Necessary Maintenance?

[SamSpade]

I don't know a lot about automobiles, but I know what most people know for maintenance. You should change the oil and filters, keep your tires inflated and check for wear, keep fluids at proper levels, replace brake pads, air filters and replace wipers as needed.

What I don't get or understand is the handful of other maintenance items that auto repair shops recommend.

For example, what is the purpose of a radiator flush, especially if there's no visible or detectable need to do so? And I mean, just doing it because "it's time"? It just seemed like they went down the list without even looking at the car.

I got a list of recommended maintenance items from the local Jiffy Lube, and aside from the oil change and a repair I knew was simple and needed, I decided to forego it until I knew if I was getting ripped off.

The car has about 100,000 miles on it. Aside from the simple ones I mentioned, are there maintenance items I absolutely should consider? And I mean, preserve the life of the car rather than peak performance stuff.

 

[kingmike2301]

What kind of car are we talking about?

 

[JoeMac]

The effectiveness of antifreeze is reduced over time and use. A flush will remove any contaminants from the cooling system. Scale and rust build up over time. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture. That moisture could cause lines to rust out or abs systems to malfunction. Changing auto transmission fluid is the same thing, the fluid breaks down over time and heat up cool down cycles.

Synthetic lubricants can extend life quite a bit. They have select ingredients and processes that makes them better resistive to temperature and breaking down. I like AMSOIL products.

My girlfriends '02 Civic has 140K miles on it and I have been maintaining it since 50K. I have had the tranny fluid changed twice, coolant once and bunches of oil changes. It is super reliable, has never broken down and gets the same mileage it did off the showroom floor. I plan to keep it running well past 200k miles. I am getting ready to have the brake fluid done. Some people don't believe in maintaining their stuff, but I do and I think it extends the useful life. Just my .02

 

[aps45819]

For example, what is the purpose of a radiator flush, especially if there's no visible or detectable need to do so? And I mean, just doing it because "it's time"? It just seemed like they went down the list without even looking at the car.

Most maintence intervals are set at time or milage. To determine when you actually "need" an oil change, you'd have to perform a chemical analysis of your oil.
Same thing applies to the coolant in your radiator

 

[glhs837]

There is a time and a place for a coolant flush. Stick with your factory book, and follow that. A lot of places just pile on stuff, becuase they make lots of cash on service.

Quite often, dealerships or JiffyLube places will make up their own recommended service intervals, much more comprehensive than what the engineers who built the car recommend.

If the car does not have an owners manual, lots of time they can be had from the manufacturer online.

 

[SamSpade]

Thanks everyone.

How many of these maintenance type things can I do myself? Realistically?

Until a few years ago, I always did my own oil changes, because it wasn't hard to do with the car I owned. The filter was in a place where I could pull it off easily, and the plug for the oil pan had a hex fitting I could easily remove and replace. Same for the air filter. Only recently have I been paying for oil changes, mostly for convenience. And wiper blades are almost too easy to replace.

Some places I've gone online suggest not to do things like a radiator flush myself, and that it would be better to get someone else to do it right.

How hard, for example, is it to replace transmission fluid?

 

[kingmike2301]

If you tell me what car i'll give you some advice

 

[glhs837]

Thanks everyone.

How many of these maintenance type things can I do myself? Realistically?

Until a few years ago, I always did my own oil changes, because it wasn't hard to do with the car I owned. The filter was in a place where I could pull it off easily, and the plug for the oil pan had a hex fitting I could easily remove and replace. Same for the air filter. Only recently have I been paying for oil changes, mostly for convenience. And wiper blades are almost too easy to replace.

Some places I've gone online suggest not to do things like a radiator flush myself, and that it would be better to get someone else to do it right.

How hard, for example, is it to replace transmission fluid?

A lot of that is going to depend on what vehicle(s) you are talking about. Some, the jobs are easier, some not so much. A 1999 Escort I do service on for my sister-in-law, that oil change is a pain, the filter sits high up off the back of the block, mounted longways, and you can come from underneath, and get oil soaked, or from the top, gouging your arm, if it even fits, to reach it, and still have to wipe oil from suspension stuff.

Wifes 99 Blazer? Piece of cake, it's filter is remotely located, right up front bottom behind the bumper.