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.