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Your Service: Getting To Know Service Schedules
By: Grant W. Repsher
Service intervals
The majors and the minors
Service add-ons
And what if I don't?
Service schedules and your warrantyMajor. Minor. Normal. Severe. There are any number of ways to categorize automotive service, so many in fact that you might prefer to gloss over the details of each and leave things in the hands of your service advisor. But as you'll see, understanding automotive service schedules is as important as sticking to one.
The majority of factory-recommended service and maintenance procedures typically follow some sort of pattern and can be categorized into just a few groups. Whether your vehicle favors the two "minor" services and then a "major" routine, or some variation of the "small, medium, large" service rotation really depends on the manufacturer, though you can rest assured that most focus on the same core list of items.
Even though the maintenance items may be similar, one place manufacturers distinguish themselves is in the frequency (or timing) of different services. Service schedule intervals can range anywhere from a short 3,000 miles to as many as 20,000 miles for some vehicles with synthetic engine oil. Due to varying regional conditions, driving patterns, and vehicle specs, however, the interval for your car will probably lie somewhere in between.
Normal vs. Severe
Additionally, some manufacturers recommend different intervals based on your specific driving behavior. You may see Normal vs. Severe or Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 listed in your owner's manual. At least two manufacturers (Nissan and Infiniti) go as far as to offer a third "Premium" schedule in addition to Schedules 1 and 2, which, of course, comes at a premium price.
Most drivers will be fine following the normal service schedule, however manufacturers may recommend the Severe schedule if the vehicle is driven under any (or all) of the following conditions:
- Extensive towing, driving under load or use of car top carrier
- Extensive driving in hilly terrain, on muddy, dusty or unpaved roads
- Extensive idling, stop and go traffic, or low speed operation over long distances, such as with delivery, police/security, or other commercial use
- Extreme temperatures or humidity
- Excessive trips of 10 miles or less, especially in below freezing temperaturesIf these conditions are met only occasionally, it's generally safe to observe the Normal service schedule. When you see these conditions up to or more than 50% of the time, it's probably a good idea to consider the more frequent servicing.
Some manufacturers make their service information easy to follow, with a simple maintenance schedule consistent across their range of products. These are often labeled with Major and Minor, or Maintenance A and Maintenance B. Others have very specific items for each service interval, each vehicle model, and even each model year. While unique features or systems (i.e. rotary engine, four wheel drive) may require an additional procedure or service, some of this differentiation may have been born out of marketing rather than the desire to ensure product quality is maintained.
Either way, most manufacturers use an odometer-driven schedule (a schedule based on mileage), some with a back-up timetable (i.e. 12,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first). Whether or not there is a pattern within your specific schedule, your owner's manual or service booklet will likely list services by mileage (5,000, 10,000, 15,000…120,000 miles, etc.).
Some of the items addressed in the typical Minor/Regular service might include:
Lube, oil & filter
Top-off primary fluids (i.e. windshield washer)
Rotate tires
Check tire pressures
Basic visual checks of main components/systemsSome of the items addressed in the typical Major/Periodic service might include:
All minor procedures, plus:
Measurement/check of secondary fluids (i.e. brake, clutch, transmission, coolant)
Check operation and condition of all components and systems
Check belt tension, brake operation or adjust valves
Check hoses, connections and fittings
Replace filter elementsOther or "Additional" maintenance items
Even when a manufacturer adheres to the most basic service schedules, all cars require several procedures that come along maybe once or twice during the average life of a vehicle, and therefore may not fit into the normal pattern. Your service provider will let you know when you're due for these items, but because they often affect major components and are generally not covered under any warranty (in other words, they can be mighty expensive), it's helpful to be aware of them beforehand.
Spark plugs: Under just the right conditions, a set of spark plugs could theoretically last the life of a vehicle. Even so, they typically aren't designed to do so and because they are both susceptible to corrosion/deposit build-up and failure and because they can become weaker over time/mileage directly affecting fuel efficiency, it's useful to observe their recommended replacement interval. Some high performance vehicles will require new spark plugs as low as 40,000 or 60,000 miles though most manufacturers and models typically recommend them at around 100,000 miles.
Spark plugs themselves are not a particularly expensive part, however there is often considerable labor required in getting to and replacing them. That means this service can cost a couple hundred dollars, making it a good choice for a do-it-yourselfer. (Note: Be sure to refer to the appropriate service/owner's manual for proper torque settings, etc.)
Timing belt: Almost all modern engines employ either a timing (ribbed) belt or chain to essentially align all of the engines strokes in their proper order, a.k.a. timing.
The timing belt and tension should be checked/adjusted regularly as part of the routine maintenance, but at some point the belt will need replacing, typically around 100,000 miles.The timing belt replacement is generally fairly expensive (a couple hundred dollars for most makes and models), again not due to parts but the labor required to replace them. Still, this isn't a service you want to skip. Letting the belt go to the point of failure can have catastrophic effects on your engine in the form of bent valves, lifters, damaged pistons or cylinders, etc. which would require a far more hefty investment to remedy than the price of the initial replacement service. This could be done by a DIYer with average to above average skills. (Note: Be sure to refer to the appropriate service/owner's manual and/or the Servassist Forums for timing belt issues with your specific make/model, as it is not unheard for a manufacturer to recommend a new replacement interval during the life of a vehicle.)
Fluid replacement: Checking the fluids is certainly something that should be done during your regularly scheduled services (Major & Minor). This generally means measuring the fluid level and topping it off if it appears to be low. At some point, usually around 100,000 or 120,000 (though it can be as early as 60,000 on some makes) some fluids need to be drained and replaced altogether. Some of the fluid recommendations you might find include engine coolant, brake, clutch, transmission, and differential/transfer case.
Many people have become wary of the service process and inquire about the necessity of following their maintenance schedules, and with good reason. It's well known that a manufacturer's revenue is based on the quality/reputation/sales of their vehicles (which is influenced by how well people maintain them), and that a significant portion of dealership profits derive from their parts and service operations.
That said, it's also well established that the better a car is maintained, the more reliable, safer, and ultimately cheaper it will be to operate. It will also be worth more during an eventual trade or sale. In general, cars are built better now and require less service than they once did. But due to their increased complexity, the old mechanic's adage of "pay me now, or pay me later" unfortunately still applies.
Another concern of many people is whether or not following their service schedule to a tee will affect the status of their new or CPO (certified pre-owned) warranty. Actual legislation exists to protect the independent auto mechanic, meaning you are not required to have all of your service done at your dealer specifically to maintain your warranty. Still, several manufacturers use language that states they will not be held accountable for failures where there is an obvious negligence by the car owner with regard to basic service and maintenance.
This issue was pressed recently as a few manufacturers were experiencing a significant increase in claims due to issues like oil sludge, which occurred much more frequently in vehicles that weren't having their oil changed regularly. The legality of warranty and independent service is an ongoing situation, so please refer to our articles, forums and blog regularly for updates.
So when your car starts to climb in mileage, don't be to surprised to hear your technician say things like "valve adjustment" or "transmission fluid." Simply refer to your service schedule and it should be listed there as part of the program.
Grant W. Repsher is the founder of Servassist Online. He is a writer with Automotive News, the auto industry's premier trade publication, and a former contributing editor with the AIADA (American International Automobile Dealers Association). To contact Grant about this article or to suggest future topics, please click here.
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