I think that we all want to do the right thing when it comes to maintaining our cars (trucks, boats, bikes, rigs, tractors, etc.)
We try to make sure that we get the best parts we can based on our research and tips from good people on websites like BITOG, and so-on.
It is scary though that we also get nervous if we don't follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule when we intelligently perform DIY services ahead of schedule because they should be.
Face it, cars have become relatively expensive for most to own, let alone maintain. Resources such as oil and petroleum based products have become more expensive. There are also environmental concerns when it comes to emissions and the disposal of used parts & equipment. We also know that resources are also not infinite.
To meet these demands & concerns, the mfg has set service schedule to higher mileage / date change intervals. Longer OCI's, for example, means less oil used, the ability to handle disposal needs, and lower maintenance costs over the life of the car.
But there is also the marketing efforts to get people to continue to consume these higher priced cars.
Leasing is a good example. The cost to enter a lease is relatively low, say a few thousand dollars (first & last month's lease payment and an effective lease entry cost), and then the monthly payments are also relatively low.
Many leases come with "free" oil changes, and most cars come with a 36/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty. Many leases go over the 36/36 period, but usually by a few months and with the extended maintenance intervals, the lessee does not make it to the next scheduled service and thus never realizes the true cost of maintaining the car.
Financing to own is another story. We all know that when you buy a car, you're paying for the full cost of the vehicle and not a portion as with a lease. In this case you're putting down, let's say, a big down payment (lease is small) so that your monthly payments are not so high (but much higher than that of a lease).
Regardless of your financing needs (lease or own) the mfg may still offer "free" oil changes and the basic 36/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty. This is good because your wallet just got a whole lot lighter with your finance to own.
Remember though that the service intervals are longer so this helps ease the pain of the lightening of your wallet. You're also happy because you have 100k spark-plugs, and 100k gear oil, and a 50k mile fuel filter, and so on.
More than likely you're only going to keep the car for say 6 to 7-years. You're sticking to the recommended service intervals and so your maintenance costs have been relatively low.
You also drive in an "ordinary" manner (or just don't care) and so again the recommended serivce intervals apply.
I drive my car to and from work, to go places near and far, to get me to see my friends and family, to help out others, and to go for a drive. Thus I place a variety of demands and the like on the car and I'm very aware that the service intervals will not be that of what is recommended.
We all know that there is no harm in changing your oil & filter more often if it's needed. As a result of the more frequent OCI's consumption goes up and so does the amount of waste oil to dispose of. Follow the recommended OCI @ every 7k, 10k or 15k miles and more wear and sludging occurs but waste oil disposals go down?
Spark plugs do not last forever. Change them to maintain your engine's performance. Change them too because new or newer plugs aide in the emissions process, minimize depositing with a better burn and in many cases the double-platinums, for example, are needed as a part of the "limp home mode".
Change the cabin air filter 2x a year. I live here in New England and it gets changed in the spring after a sandy, salty, dirty and thus dusty winter and in the fall after going through a couple of pollen cycles, dust in general, and the drying and decay of autumn.
Change the fuel filter every 10k miles. It's inexpensive insurance. Keep down depositing and clogging of the injectors and keep from replacing the injectors sooner (barring any mechanical wear or defects). At one time or another the then cost of 8 injectors on my Mustang 5.0 was around $900. I never had a clogging or deposit problem and I lucked out without having a mechanical problem with them.
I don't think that the mfg/dealer wants to really say that: So, you just spent 30-40k for your car and the plugs are $18.00 each and you need four and that they should be replaced every 40k miles for optimal performance and emissions control.
Or perhaps they could recommend synthetic oil in your car after, say, the first 5k miles because it's better for the engine (which they won't because they want you to have engine wear and sludge problems) however it's 7.00/quart.
Since you are aware that you drive your car in the real world you are also are aware that you're going to have to do the service intervals more frequently.
We try to make sure that we get the best parts we can based on our research and tips from good people on websites like BITOG, and so-on.
It is scary though that we also get nervous if we don't follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule when we intelligently perform DIY services ahead of schedule because they should be.
Face it, cars have become relatively expensive for most to own, let alone maintain. Resources such as oil and petroleum based products have become more expensive. There are also environmental concerns when it comes to emissions and the disposal of used parts & equipment. We also know that resources are also not infinite.
To meet these demands & concerns, the mfg has set service schedule to higher mileage / date change intervals. Longer OCI's, for example, means less oil used, the ability to handle disposal needs, and lower maintenance costs over the life of the car.
But there is also the marketing efforts to get people to continue to consume these higher priced cars.
Leasing is a good example. The cost to enter a lease is relatively low, say a few thousand dollars (first & last month's lease payment and an effective lease entry cost), and then the monthly payments are also relatively low.
Many leases come with "free" oil changes, and most cars come with a 36/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty. Many leases go over the 36/36 period, but usually by a few months and with the extended maintenance intervals, the lessee does not make it to the next scheduled service and thus never realizes the true cost of maintaining the car.
Financing to own is another story. We all know that when you buy a car, you're paying for the full cost of the vehicle and not a portion as with a lease. In this case you're putting down, let's say, a big down payment (lease is small) so that your monthly payments are not so high (but much higher than that of a lease).
Regardless of your financing needs (lease or own) the mfg may still offer "free" oil changes and the basic 36/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty. This is good because your wallet just got a whole lot lighter with your finance to own.
Remember though that the service intervals are longer so this helps ease the pain of the lightening of your wallet. You're also happy because you have 100k spark-plugs, and 100k gear oil, and a 50k mile fuel filter, and so on.
More than likely you're only going to keep the car for say 6 to 7-years. You're sticking to the recommended service intervals and so your maintenance costs have been relatively low.
You also drive in an "ordinary" manner (or just don't care) and so again the recommended serivce intervals apply.
I drive my car to and from work, to go places near and far, to get me to see my friends and family, to help out others, and to go for a drive. Thus I place a variety of demands and the like on the car and I'm very aware that the service intervals will not be that of what is recommended.
We all know that there is no harm in changing your oil & filter more often if it's needed. As a result of the more frequent OCI's consumption goes up and so does the amount of waste oil to dispose of. Follow the recommended OCI @ every 7k, 10k or 15k miles and more wear and sludging occurs but waste oil disposals go down?
Spark plugs do not last forever. Change them to maintain your engine's performance. Change them too because new or newer plugs aide in the emissions process, minimize depositing with a better burn and in many cases the double-platinums, for example, are needed as a part of the "limp home mode".
Change the cabin air filter 2x a year. I live here in New England and it gets changed in the spring after a sandy, salty, dirty and thus dusty winter and in the fall after going through a couple of pollen cycles, dust in general, and the drying and decay of autumn.
Change the fuel filter every 10k miles. It's inexpensive insurance. Keep down depositing and clogging of the injectors and keep from replacing the injectors sooner (barring any mechanical wear or defects). At one time or another the then cost of 8 injectors on my Mustang 5.0 was around $900. I never had a clogging or deposit problem and I lucked out without having a mechanical problem with them.
I don't think that the mfg/dealer wants to really say that: So, you just spent 30-40k for your car and the plugs are $18.00 each and you need four and that they should be replaced every 40k miles for optimal performance and emissions control.
Or perhaps they could recommend synthetic oil in your car after, say, the first 5k miles because it's better for the engine (which they won't because they want you to have engine wear and sludge problems) however it's 7.00/quart.
Since you are aware that you drive your car in the real world you are also are aware that you're going to have to do the service intervals more frequently.
