As the owner of a customer-service oriented Mechanics business, I am often asked, "How often should I change my oil?" or "How often should I get maintenance repairs done?"
Now, it is understandable that most drivers are not mechanics themselves, and instead most rely on mechanic services through other people or companies, saving the need for having to know about too many inner working parts of their vehicles.
However, that doesn’t mean that a driver should be able to shirk the few minimal bits of knowledge that the manufacturer wants them to remember. You can always tell what the manufacturer believes you should know about your car, because it’s in that little paper book in your glove box. You know! That manual thingy that they put in there when you buy the car!
Inside that giant paper weight, is all the information you need to know about your car, and I truly feel that anyone who hasn’t checked out their vehicle owners manual, should be re-tested for eligibility to drive.
Now, I don’t want any confusion. I don’t feel that you should have to memorize your manual, but there are key points in there that give very important information about your car. If you don’t read it, you can easily trigger the void of your warranty, through sheer negligence of not having taken the time to have read your manual.
Not only that, but your owners manual gives a suggested about of time between oil changes, brake checks, systems checks, belt changes, transmission fluid changes, and some even offer a life expectancy of the wind shield wipers.
This information is there and it has a BIG purpose! To help you keep your vehicle running for longer than its expected life time, and to KEEP YOU SAFE.
As a mechanic, I sincerely wouldn’t mind if everyone just kept ignoring their manuals, or denying the internet’s use of looking up that information, because it’s just more money in my pocket when the next "unaware" driver seems to have an issues that could have been prevented through simple and easy-to-learn knowledge.
Now, to keep within the Spirit of Factoidz, lets go over some key information that EVERYONE should know about their vehicles. I mean really, that is why you’re here, isn’t it? So that you won’t be another unaware driver out there, who might have an accident or emergency because they "didn’t know".
1. Oil Change every 3,000 miles.
Now, this is an important one. The oil that your car uses, is like the blood that runs through our veins. It keeps everything running and lubricated the way that it should be. When you allow it go without changing at the proper intervals, you allow the old oil to coagulate and build up inside your engine. Which creates a substance know as "sludge." That’s a pretty word, isn’t it?
The reason I say 3,000 Miles, and not 3 Months, 6 months or 8 months, is because that gets confusing. At that point, you aren’t really trying to figure out when your next oil change should be, you’re trying to figure out how much you drive your car. Which could be helpful, but just isn’t needed. It’s that simple, if your vehicle has 110,000 miles on it, and you just got an oil change, you need another one at 113,000 miles. If you’ve received your car second hand and don’t know when the last time was that it had an oil change, lets just say it’s in your best interested to get one done ASAP.
What is an oil change?
An oil change is when a technician drains the oil from the bottom of your engine, changes the filter, and then refills the engine with brand new oil.
How long does it usually take?
To me, that depends on how hot your engine is. Oil changes are faster as far as the draining aspect, when the engine is hot, but it is also much easier to get burned doing it. 25 to 45 minutes if your engine is hot, to allow time for it to cool down.
If your engine is cold, it shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes when performed by a qualified mechanic. Maybe 25 minutes for a novice.
How much should it cost?
That does vary from place to place, but in an ‘average’ overall rate, it should cost you no more than 30 minutes labor, or half the hourly rate. Which would range from $15 to $45 to get your oil changed, parts and all.
2. Transmission Fluid Change every 60,000 Miles
This is another important maintenance requirement that few drivers remember to pay attention to, and it often costs them the only vehicle they had.
Have you ever owned a mid to late nineties mini-van? Had the transmission go out on you after 130,000 to 150,000 miles are on it? Know why? Most likely because the owner’s manual was not read, as many of them stated that those particular front-wheel-drive transmissions needed not only fluid and filter changes at twice the rate of any other engines, but they also need regular "checks" to make sure they were running smoothly. The manuals also say that they require computer check ups to keep up with the functionality of the transmission and other parts in the vehicle. Yet, how many of you knew that?
I don’t push this information to be snooty, but more to be frank. The owner’s manual often has all you should ever need to know in it, and yet no one really reads it, or even gazes through it.
What is a Transmission Fluid Change?
It is when the remove the drain pan from your transmission, replace the filter with a new one, and then give it brand new fluid. It also requires a proper check after the repairs are made, to make sure the transmission filter is placed properly. Otherwise you could ruin the transmission from simply trying to maintain it.
How often should I change my transmission fluid?
Every 60,000 miles. For some of you that may be more than a year, and others it could be just over 3 months. It just depends on how often you drive your vehicle. This is why it’s easier to go by your mileage, than a date.
How much should it cost?
A Transmission fluid and filter change shouldn’t take to much longer than an oil change, and should range between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the access available to the transmission. It can cost between $40 and $100, which is a lot. This is definitely something a novice can do however, and is as easy as buying a chilton’s manual at the store.
Brake Checks every 3,000 miles
It is generally considered a good habit to get your brakes checked for uneven wear patterns, and your tires rotated every time you get your oil changed. Many shops even offer all three as a package deal, or will perform the checks for free when you buy your oil change. Which makes it convenient to go ahead and get them done.
I hope I really don’t have to say much on the importance of Brake Checks and brake pad changes when they need to be done. I mean really, how important is it to you, to be able to stop at a moments notice?
How Much Should it cost?
In most cases the services are free, but in certain shops it might run you between $20 to $30.
4. System Diagnostics/Scans every 60,000 miles
Now, to be safe, I would do it a little more often than that, but that is because I err on the safe side of the pasture. Most vehicles are fine when they have their computer and electronics checked every 60,000 miles, and it becomes a great way to prevent the sudden and unexplainable "ca-poot" of your car.
This test, in which they use a Scan Tool, can run between $50 and $100, depending on the maker of your car, and the availability of the right software to read it. Note that your vehicle can always be scanned by the dealer who sold it to you, and shouldn’t take more than 5 to 15 minutes to read and diagnose.
The importance of having your "Brain Scanned", so to speak, will save you Hundreds of dollars and wasted time in the long run, because your vehicles brain was put into place to keep track of the rest of the car. If you have your computer checked at proper intervals, you will know when it will need anything else, and be able to fix it before it breaks anything else along the way. Making your vehicle last longer.
Well, there is a time to drive, and a time to read. I do suggest that you don’t do them both at the same time, and it is a very good idea to take some dedicated time to get to know your vehicles owner manual. Make a few notes about parts you may not understand, and make sure to ask your mechanic the next time you see them, so that you don’t get caught off guard!
