Recommended 30K mile maintenance for 2008 Altima

[barlowc]

I have a 2008 Altima Coupe 2.5 S that will turn 30K miles in a week or two. What would folks recommend for maintenance at this point?

Oil changes, tire rotations/balancing, and alignments are all up-to-date. The engine air filter is a K&N and I replaced the cabin air filter this past spring. I have a new set of Bosch ICON wiper blades that I'll be putting on.

The service guide recommends flushing the CVT fluid at 30K under the Premium schedule. (The dealer's schedule recommends the same.) My car doesn't have a drain plug so the work is a little more involved. 30K seems a little early anyway, so I was going to let this go to 45K or maybe even 60K.

The service guide recommends flushing the coolant at 30K under the Premium schedule. (The dealer's schedule recommends the same.) That too seems a little early so I was going to let that go to 60K miles which is the Schedule 1/2 interval.

The service guide recommends replacing the radiator cap and engine drive belts under the Premium schedule. That just seems ridiculous.

The dealer's schedule recommends "Fuel Induction Service" which I feel is unnecessary and just a money-maker for the dealer. I've been using Chevron Techron or Gumout Regane every 6K miles anyway.

The dealer's schedule also recommends flushing the brake fluid. After 2.5 years and 30K miles, I could see that being reasonable. But the fluid doesn't appear to be very dirty and the brakes feel/perform as good as they always have. So I was thinking of pushing that to the 3-year / 36K mile mark.

What do you all think?

 

[Billbert]

Flush the brake fluid if it has antilock brakes. Do the transmission fluid change. Those components are to expensive to 'cheap out' on.

 

[beast3300]

Whatever the manufacture recommends for 30k is what I would do. Radiator cap replacement is a very good idea, it does wear out.

 

[jkhawaii]

There is what the manufacture recommends and there is what the dealer recommends.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
The service guide recommends replacing the radiator cap and engine drive belts under the Premium schedule. That just seems ridiculous.


That seems ridiculous to me as well. I'd consider doing those as preventative maintenance at 120k.

I'd leave the coolant and brake fluid until 60k if the owner's manual allows, but I'd consider doing the transmission fluid at 30k.

 

[lairdwd]

Originally Posted By: jkhawaii
There is what the manufacture recommends and there is what the dealer recommends.


Or you have like Honda where they recommend 90K change intervals on their [censored] automatic transmission fluid, but the dealer says 30K change intervals. Who is right? Dealer for this one time. Manual just about everything else.

Regarding OP, why care about "premium" or whatever they call it. Sounds like "severe" = "premium" ? If you're not driving in severe conditions, blow it off.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: lairdwd
Regarding OP, why care about "premium" or whatever they call it. Sounds like "severe" = "premium"?

Nissan's definitions are as follows:

Premium Maintenance is a Nissan recommended option that is suitable for all driving habits and local conditions. Nissan developed Premium Maintenance for owners who want the ultimate in preventative maintenance. With Premium Maintenance, more maintenance items are regularly checked or replaced than with either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 maintenance schedules. Using the Premium Maintenance schedule may optimize the performance, reliability, and resale value of your vehicle.

Schedule 1 features the same 3,750-mile service intervals as Premium Maintenance; however, with Schedule 1 fewer maintenance items are regularly checked or replaced than with the Premium Maintenance schedule. Use Schedule 1 if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of these conditions: 1) Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures, 2) Stop-and-go traffic in hot weather or low-speed driving for long distances, 3) Driving in dusty conditions or on rough, muddy, or salt-spread roads, 4) Towing a trailer, or using a camper or car-top carrier.

Schedule 2 features 7,500-mile service intervals; with Schedule 2 fewer maintenance items are regularly checked or replaced than with Schedule 1. Generally, Schedule 2 applies only to highway driving in temperate conditions. Use Schedule 2 only if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed in Schedule 1.

My driving habits/conditions put me in Schedule 2 for the most part. However, Michigan's winters don't qualify as "temperate conditions". The reason I noted some of the things called for in the Premium category are because a) that's where I'm at mileage wise, and b) I'm willing to consider doing some things more often if they aren't completely ridiculous and unnecessary, won't break the bank, and will optimize the performance of my vehicle.

Right now I'm on the fence with the CVT fluid and brake fluid. Neither are completely ridiculous and unnecessary at 2.5 years and 30K miles. Neither will break the bank. But will they optimize performance and/or serve as good preventative maintenance?