Dr. Jay’s Notes
By Jay Zembower
A Prescription For Protecting Your Investment
Often I am asked “what should I do to keep my vehicle in optimum condition and keep it running for many miles and years”? I have prepared a maintenance list with service intervals that should help prevent breakdowns and alleviate costly surprise repairs. Let’s face it, spending several hundred dollars once in a while is far better than spending thousands due to lack of preventative service. Listed below are some suggestions that apply to 98% of all vehicles operated in Florida.
| SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE | SERVICE INTERVALS |
|
Change oil and filter
|
3,000-4,000 miles
|
|
Rotate tires
|
5,000 miles
|
|
General service inspection
|
Annually
|
|
Balance tires and alignment
|
Annually
|
|
Wiper blades (not refills)
|
Annually
|
|
Air conditioning service
|
Annually
|
|
Air filter
|
15,000 miles
|
|
Clean and adjust brakes
|
15,000 miles or every year
|
|
Replace pcv valve
|
30,000 miles
|
|
Replace brake fluid
|
30,000 miles or 2 years
|
|
Clean fuel system & replace fuel filter
|
30,000 miles or 2 years
|
|
Change transmission fluid and filter
|
30,000 miles
|
|
Change antifreeze
|
30,000 miles
|
|
Flush power steering system
|
30,000 miles
|
|
Replace belts, hoses & thermostat
|
50,000-60,000 miles or 5 years
|
|
Spark plugs, ignition wires & ignition system
|
30,000-60,000 miles- varies with models
|
|
Change differential grease on rear wheel drive
|
60,000 miles
|
|
Change transfer case fluid(4 wheel drive vehicles)
|
30,000-60,000 miles
|
|
Timing belts (if equipped, varies)
|
60,000-125,000 miles or 5 years
|
Use this as a guide and you can expect to drive at least 200,000 miles on most vehicles, like many of our clients already have. If you have any questions concerning this guide or your vehicle please call us at (407) 831-5620. We’ll be glad to assist you with our automotive needs.
