How to avoid unnecessary maintenance expenses?
-Use your Owner's Manual and FleetVIP to set up and track the maintenance schedule
Find the maintenance schedule that came with the vehicle you need to track. This is usually in the User's Guide. Or look for it online at the manufacturer's website. Or ask a dealer for a copy.
It is important to do this homework because some car dealers and repair shops often suggest 'packages' at certain mileage intervals that include extra-cost items not actually needed to maintain your vehicle or warranty. The optional, extra-cost items can easily add hundreds of dollars to your visit! And sometimes work that is required is not mentioned. So you could end up doing unneeded work and not doing required work. The worst of both worlds - higher costs while possibly voiding your warranty. That is why you need to be in charge and informed!
According to the AAA Auto Club, "Much of this confusion and neglect can be attributed to a lack of specific knowledge about what the car manufacturer recommends in the service schedule included in the owner's manual. To make matters worse, some service shops have their own set of service guidelines that call for more frequent service than is recommended by the manufacturer. So, what's a car owner to do? Following the service recommendations in the owner's manual is best..."
Example: I recently received a reminder in the mail from a reputable, trustworthy independent shop I use advising that my car is due for its 50,000 mile service and that the automatic transaxle fluid and automatic transaxle filter needed to be replaced. But my car did not need a 50,000 mile service since it is closer to 40,000 miles. And the manufacturer does not recommend the fluid and filter change unless I use my car as a taxi or do frequent trailer towing. So I did not need to do these items. Plus, the manufacturer's required maintenance at 5 years (or 150,000 miles) does include a coolant flush and no mention of this was made on the card.
Another Example: I received another reminder in the mail from a General Motors dealer advising that my vehicle was due for it's 'regularly scheduled maintenance' which was described as the '48000 Mile Service'. However, there is no '48000 Mile Service' required by the manufacturer. In fact, there is nothing, nada, zilch required at 48,000 miles. Yet this dealer would have me believe otherwise since the notice could easily be understood to mean that this '48000 Mile Service' was required when in reality it was not required.
The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth:
According to AAA auto club: "One of the most beneficial things you can do to extend the life of your vehicle is change the oil regularly. But, regularly does not mean "frequently." The old rule of thumb of changing the oil every 3,000 miles may not apply to today's advanced engines. Technologically improved lubricants are capable of lasting longer while still doing a good job of protecting your engine.
Under normal driving conditions, the oil-change schedule can be extended to 7,500 miles, and several luxury imports can go as high as 20,000 miles. The trick to determining the best oil-change schedule for your vehicle is understanding what kind of driving you do. Severe conditions may require you to change oil more frequently. Check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's definition of different types of driving conditions and the recommended schedule and type of oil for each condition."
As you can see, when it comes to automotive maintenance, there is a lot of room for confusion and for ineffective use of your time and money. (But you probably knew that.)
By setting up and tracking your maintenance schedule with FleetVIP, you will be much better informed and better able to discuss with your shop what is required and what is optional. You can more easily verify that all work required to maintain your warranty is done. Obviously, there may be some things not required by the manufacturer that you decide to have done. With FleetVIP on your side, if you decide some optional work is a good idea, you will be clear in your mind that it IS optional. And if you agree to do some optional work, that will be an informed choice rather than a misunderstanding about what is actually required by the manufacturer.
Related Topic: How to Upgrade