30,000 Mile Service

[TWG1572]

I have a '08 Nissan Frontier (VQ40) that is coming up on 30,000 miles. I have a "Premium" and "Normal" service schedule that is not based on miles - rather Premium is the "ultimate in preventative maintenance"... (their words not mine) Normal is then broken down into the usual severe and normal service categories.

What comes with the premium at 30K is an AT fluid change, differential oil change, coolant change, hub/bearing grease, and transfer case oil change. However, the normal maintenance calls for it at 100K miles.

100K seems way to far for these fluids to go.. 30K sounds about right for transmission fluid and coolant... I don't have a clue on the rest.

Any suggestions on what I should get changed? I'm not looking to push change intervals to the max, but don't need to spend $$ on stuff that doesn't need doing. I usually keep my vehicles to 150-160K. I don't tow - most of my miles are highway.

Part of me also says that having this done during warranty may increase the chance that they would find anything that may be going wrong sooner and have to fix it under warranty..

 

[Boomer]

I have an '07 Frontier with qbout 26,000 miles. I do my own maintenance and have changed both diffs (Mobil 1 75W-90 in the rear and Valvoline SemiSyn 80W-90 in the front), Nissan Matic D in the transfer case and two drain and fills with Nissan Matic S (replaces J). This is relatively easy to do. Just set aside a warm afternoon.

Always remember to remove the fill plug before the drain plug on stuff, get some of the aluminum wahers for the diffs and transfer case and copper crush washers for the at pan drain.

I think all of this cost me less than $100 while the dealer probably would have charged several hundred. I am going to let the dealer flush the cooling system as the system is supposed to be filled with a special vacuum attachment to prevent trapped air, not good in an aluminum block engine.

Do NOT let those factory fills in the diffs and transfer cases much longer. You'll be surprised how ugly they are when drained.

 

[DieselTech]

Along with those mentioned I'd get the PS serviced and the brake fluid flushed. Coolant I wouldn't think is required at 30K.

You should be looking at
Oil
Trans case
Trans
Diff
PS
Brake
hub greasing if accessable.

Check the belt for any cracking and replace if there is. Hoses should be good but visually inspect.

 

[law3500]

Having owned the same truck and worked as a tech for Nissan I can tell you the hub bearings are NOT serviceable on this truck so they should not be charging you for this, I personally would replace my tcase and diff fluid at 30k on this to get the factory fill out of them. I would also to the trans and coolant but then again I am an anal BITOG member and I have German Castrol in my lawn mower.

 

[CourierDriver]

transmissions are at 30k, tuneups maybe 60k,rearend oil at 30k these figures are dealer data, some folks go 100k on transmissions, not recommended .

 

[TWG1572]

Good catch on the hubs... I mis-read the service schedule..

 

[JimPghPA]

I am not familiar with that vehicle, does it have an idler tensioner for the belt? Can anyone comment if it does, / and if so, when should the tensioner and idler (including bearings) be swapped out?

I have found on some vehicles that replacing the belt is useless unless you also replace the tensioner and idler pulley.

 

[Vikas]

Frankly, your vehicle needs *nothing* at 30K miles to be replaced or changed as a part of schedule. If you read the owners manual correctly; it will be all *inspect*. 15K/30K services are gravy for the dealer. If you have $400 burning hole in your pocket, please have dealer do the 30K service.

If you get oil changed at a good independent shop or do it yourself, you can look underneath to make sure nothing is hanging out. While the car is on the lift, a good mechanic will eyeball underneath and will not charge your for "inspection".

- Vikas

 

[nthach]

I'd do a complete fluid and filter change, check the wear and critical items and call it a day. If you go to the dealer, chances are the techs will try to upsell you services you probably don't need or need to have done soon and the service advisers will try to sell you BG/MOC/Wynn's fluid flushes and other things that are high-margin services.

 

[TWG1572]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Frankly, your vehicle needs *nothing* at 30K miles to be replaced or changed as a part of schedule. If you read the owners manual correctly; it will be all *inspect*. 15K/30K services are gravy for the dealer. If you have $400 burning hole in your pocket, please have dealer do the 30K service.


Actually, I am reading the manual correctly. There are three service schedules - Premium, Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. I'd agree with you 100% that Schedule 1 and 2 only require an inspection. However, the Premium includes the other fluid changes.

Hence my question - I'm not feeling like lightening my wallet by $400 (or maybe $200 if I do it myself) just because Nissan invented a premium service to make $$. However, there seems to be some justification to change out the fluids on a quicker interval than the manual suggests. I'm just trying to feel out the opinions and personal experiences.

I'd sleep better knowing I have fresh fluids, but I could also take that $400 and go to Vegas and sleep pretty good too! Or maybe not sleep, but you get the point!

 

[Vikas]

And what makes you believe that the dealer will *actually* change all the fluids for $400? There are enough incidents reported in this forum where a garage has routinely charged for services which were not performed. And most participants here are lot more savvy than a typical customer.

How is "Premium" service defined? Is it applicable if your vehicle is used as NY cab? Come to think of it, even the cabbies probably don't follow the "Premium" service schedule. If they did, they won't be making money if their vehicle goes in for service every few weeks. They make zero dollars when the vehicle is in shop.

- Vikas

 

[CourierDriver]

Not all of us can climb under an auto and do all this service anymore. Disabilities, old age, those that dont have a spouse to do the simple checks. A single mom and 2 kids, give me a break on car mantenance or a 75 or 80 year old, aint happening for the most part. Yep dealerships and fast lubes rip them off.

 

[Vikas]

And that is why you have to find and maintain good relation with *honest* shop. If it is competent, then it is icing on the cake. Give as much business as you can to them. Word of mouth is the best way to find honest shops in your area. Talk with your mechanically inclined friends. Heck, I have not changed my own oil in the last thirteen years but I am still here

- Vikas

 

[The Critic]

Oil change, rotate tires, engine air filter, cabin air filter, service transmission and brake fluid flush.