Servicing a new vehicle

[cdnav8r]

Not exactly sure what forum this goes into, so I'll post hear.

 

For the people who bought their truck brand new, do you follow all the recommended servicing items that the dealer lists?  I do change the oil religiously, but I'm talking about the other stuff such as differentials, transmission, tire rotations, etc, etc.  It seems like there is ALOT to service and maintain within the first few years.  Are all of them really necessary?  If you miss any of the items, it doesn't void your warranty does it?

[Shaners]

Definatly rotate the tires and change the oil.  If you do any towing, then changing the rear diff is probably a good idea.  The tranny service should be done (in my opinion) around 50K but alot of people never do it at all...

[GreenRado]

Although components, in general, are more robust, and fluids are designed to last longer, I definitely agree w/ Shaners, punkins and transfer cases should be changed at least under the manual's guidelines, and more often if towing, or commercial duty.

 

This goes for tranny fluid/filter and coolant also; I usually change these @ twice the interval indicated in the manual - plugs also.

 

It's just cheap insurance as I see it.

[RyanbabZ71]

Rotate tires?  Well i did after the first 6K i put on the bfg's.  I havent since and i have about 13K total on em.  

 

Trans i plan on doing at 50K

Did the rear diff at 18K

Front diff havent done yet

Transfer case gm put the blue stuff in not to long ago so im good there

 

Personally i dont follow what they say i do things earlier

[CMNTMXR81]

50K for the trans?  I've been doing mine at 30k.  Same thing for the differential.

 

I try to do the fuel filter every 10-15k.  You'd be amazed as to how dirty these things get.

 

As to needing a lot of maintenance when they're new, I've never heard of that and I used to work in a service department.  They make these things nowadays to go 100,000 miles technically before anything needs maintenance.  They do this specifically for the crowd that only opens the hood 10-15 times throughout the vehicle's entire lifetime.  

[cdnav8r]

ok, so basically when the dealer gives you the maintenance schedule, they aren't just trying to make money by having you come in for all those items right?  BTW, i did my auto trans at 25,000 kms <--- recommended by dealer

[CMNTMXR81]

Normal routine maintenance should be done at recommended intervals, and done sooner in extended use/heavy duty use areas.

 

But stuff on the newer (98+) vehicles like your spark plugs and coolant are 100,000 mile.  Stuff like trans fluid , rear end fluid and other stuff short of regular oil and air filter changes can be done around the 50,000 mile area.  I do mine sooner, but then again, I tow.

 

Now personally, I don't pay attention to the 100,000 mile stuff.  PLugs get changed as soon as the aftermarket ones come out and I plan on flushing my DexCool coolant and going back to the good ol green stuff as it simply transfers heat and therefore cools better.

 

Really, going by the book, the only maintenance a newer vehicle needs aside from oil changes is any warranty work that needs doing to it.

[NewbieZ71]

If you want to ensure no warranty problems I would follow the manual to the "T" until warranty goes kaput.  That way they cant go down that road if all h@!! breaks loose at the service department.  I always heard if you dont change the tranny at 50K, dont change it at all.  Something about it just kicking up shavings and such.  Not sure I agree or even understand that thinking but I have heard that.  

 

My father always told me that it doesnt make sense but that I would be amazed at how long the WHOLE vehicle will last if you just change the oil every 3000.

[cdnav8r]

maybe I'll post up my maintenance schedule so you all have a better idea of what I'm talking about.....red dots EVERYWHERE  

 

I don't have a scanner, so I'll probably just take a pic of it with my digicam and hopefully the quality isn't that bad....I'll do it sometime tomorrow if I remember.

[RyanbabZ71]

CD my mom owns a blazer (19K).  Only maintenance it has gotten over its life has been oil change and everything that goes on with that (fluid checks lubes etc)

 

I doubt the rear end fluid will ever be changed.  Her old blazer went 127K before we sold it.  Only things done were oil changes, coolant flush, and 1 transmision fluid change because it felt like the trans was going out.  I see the old blazer once in awhile at school.  Still running.  Dont know exactly how many miles.  My guess is it is over 175K

[cdnav8r]

Ryan, thanks for the info.

 

I only have about 27,000 kms on it (note not miles) and I've already had my diff. serviced and trans serviced.  Like I said, there was a ton of items listed.  I forgot to take a pic of the schedule this morning, I'll do it later.

 

Some people DID tell me that I don't need to do ALL the items, at least not this early.  The only reason I do them all is because I want to ensure that my truck lasts, as its my first and also because I tend to baby my posessions.....but it just seems like its a waste of money so far.

[CMNTMXR81]

You're exactly like me so by all means, follow your maintanance schedule.  It brings a smile to me when people actually CARE for their vehicles.  It saddens me when I hear a co-worker thinking about changing her oil because it's been 10,000 miles since the last time she had it changed!  

 

But that was what I meant earlier about the 100,000 miles coolant, plugs, and other fluids/parts.  It's meant for those people who let their oil go 10,000 miles between changes.    ???

[cdnav8r]

ok, well here is a pic of my maintanance schedule.  Sorry for it being so grainy.  I didn't want it causing any lag for people on dial up so I resized it.

 

[CMNTMXR81]

You wacky Canadians!!!    

 

I need to figure out what the conversion rate is from Miles to kilometers.