For decades now, dealerships and quickie oil change franchises have convinced the masses that they must get their oil changed every 3 thousand miles. Why? Because their business models depend on consistent service appointments. In reality though, modern cars do not require such frequent attention. While regular maintenance is important, your check-ups should be done according to the schedule created by your car’s manufacturer.
What Is The Maintenance Booklet & Why Is It So Important?
If you’ve never looked at your owner’s manual before, now would be a good time to start. The owner’s manual provides detailed instructions about how to properly operate and maintain your vehicle. Within this booklet, not only will you learn the function of every knob and switch, you’ll also find a separate maintenance booklet with checkpoints defined by mileage. At each checkpoint, your manufacturer lists items that should–and must–be examined or changed. For example, according to the official Subaru Warranty Booklet, service check-ups are to be performed every 10,000 km or every 6 months.
As you can see, this contradicts the “every 3 thousand miles” mantra. Here are 2 benefits of following your car’s maintenance booklet.
1. It Saves Money
Dealerships and quickie oil change businesses are trained to upsell you. Sure, you may like to change your oil more often, but if you’re not careful, an in and out oil change can turn into a more expensive venture. While dealerships should abide by the official maintenance schedule, they often contradict it in the name of “experience.” Yes, depending on your driving habits, you may need more frequent service, but before you agree to a brand new serpentine belt, consult your manual first.
Quickie oil stop places can be worse. Often, they’ll be ready to recite a script. From the minute you pull in, it’s common for them to say “[name of your car’s manufacturer] recommends this service at this mileage point.”
2. Your Car Will Get What it Needs, When it Needs It
All too often, people get fooled into thinking that their car needs something when it doesn’t. Even if you’re not a car expert (and many people aren’t), it pays to educate yourself a little bit. Read your owner’s manual and your maintenance booklet. Knowing when your spark plugs should be changed, for example, will give you confidence during an inspection.
Ready For Your Scheduled Maintenance Check-Up? Stop by Innovative Restorations Today!
We at Innovative Restorations pride ourselves on being honest mechanics. You will not find any pointless upselling here. Not only will we perform a factory-specific inspection, we’ll also explain how to follow your maintenance booklet properly.
