Why is factory scheduled maintenance so important?

Why Factory Scheduled Maintenance so Important

We live in a time when almost everyone must own a car or have access to one. But owning a vehicle is not enough. You also have to fulfill your responsibilities of ownership. These responsibilities include maintaining an insurance policy, vehicle registration, emissions inspections and regular service. But what is factory scheduled maintenance and why must you follow these guidelines?

Why is factory scheduled maintenance so important?

The manufacturer who designed and manufactured your car, truck or SUV did so with specific operating conditions in mind. Their design works best when cared for as they specify. The automaker provides factory scheduled maintenance instructions to help you understand how to take care of the vehicle for its best performance.

If you do not keep up with this factory scheduled maintenance, you face problems with individual components and the vehicle, as a whole. Neglecting maintenance enables excessive wear and tear on its parts, forcing other components to work harder or fail. Failed parts prove much more expensive than the maintenance that keeps them running as they should.

Who comes up with the factory scheduled maintenance?

The general recommendation in the automotive industry is for major service/maintenance to occur at:

  • 30,000 miles
  • 60,000 miles
  • 100,000 miles

At a minimum

If you do not drive your vehicle very often, your maintenance should take place at two years, five years and 10 years. You can certainly choose to maintain your vehicle through visits to Cloverdale Auto more often, if you choose.

When you take your car, truck or SUV into Cloverdale Auto for its 30,000 mile maintenance, you can expect to receive several automotive services. These include an engine air filter change, oil change, brake fluid flush, cabin air filter change and tire rotation. Of course, make/model specifics do occasionally vary. That’s why it’s important to take your vehicle to a mechanic that specializes in and knows your vehicle make. They will be familiar with make specifics for factory recommended maintenance intervals.

At the 60,000 mile interval or after five years of ownership, you receive the same services as for 30,000 mile maintenance. But at this time, you also need a transmission fluid flush from Cloverdale Auto.

After 10 years of ownership or at 100,000 miles, you receive all of the above services plus replacement of the spark plugs, water pump and timing belt, if needed. Cloverdale Auto’s skilled technicians also provide a differential fluid change and transfer case fluid change.

Your Maintenance Timing and Services Can Vary from Typical Recommendations

Factory scheduled maintenance is recommended for the best operation of your vehicle according to typical use, wear and tear. But within this scheduled maintenance are normal duty standards and severe duty standards.

Normal duty standards apply when you drive your vehicle for less than 12,000 miles per year. This is the typical use for someone who only drives a short commute for work. It also involves mostly highway driving, not as much stop-and-go through traffic. If this is how you drive your car, truck or SUV, most auto mechanics recommend you follow the time-based model of factory scheduled maintenance. For example, you should have your vehicle maintained at two years, five years and 10 years of ownership.

Severe duty standards apply whether you do off-roading or drive under other intense conditions. Conditions for following a severe duty maintenance schedule include:

  • Extended periods of idling
  • Stop and go driving
  • Dusty conditions
  • Extreme temperatures

Most drivers fall into the category of doing a lot of stop and go driving. So you likely fall under the severe driving conditions, even if you do not go off-roading or drive in extreme temperatures. Severe duty maintenance typically includes having your vehicle’s fluids and filters changed more often.

Cloverdale Auto Provides Your Factory Scheduled Maintenance

Cloverdale Auto in Winston-Salem, North Carolina helps you keep your vehicle’s factory scheduled maintenance up to date. In turn, this keeps your vehicle running as it should.

Other key automotive services provided by Cloverdale Auto include:

Call Cloverdale Auto in Winston-Salem at 336-331-3448 for a service appointment. Be sure to ask about your factory scheduled maintenance and how to keep your car, truck or SUV on the road and driving its best.

Cloverdale Auto Service