Dealerships love selling you "service packages" that bundle things you need with things you don't. Here's the no-BS maintenance schedule — what actually needs to happen at each mileage interval, and what you can skip.
This is a general guide. Your owner's manual is the final authority for your specific car. But this covers 90% of vehicles on the road.
Every 5,000-7,500 Miles
- Oil change — use the oil weight your manual specifies (usually 0W-20 or 5W-30 for modern cars). Full synthetic every 7,500 miles is fine for most cars. DIY guide →
- Tire rotation — evens out tire wear. DIY guide →
- Visual inspection — check tire pressure, fluid levels, lights, wipers
DIY savings: ~$80-120 per service
Every 15,000-20,000 Miles
- Air filter replacement — takes 5 minutes. DIY guide →
- Cabin air filter — takes 2 minutes. DIY guide →
- Brake inspection — check pad thickness and rotor condition while doing tire rotations
- Wiper blade replacement — swap when they streak
DIY savings: ~$100-150 per service
Every 30,000-40,000 Miles
- Brake pads (front, sometimes rear) — depends on driving habits. DIY guide →
- Brake fluid flush — often overlooked but important for brake performance. DIY guide →
- Fuel filter (if external) — many modern cars have in-tank filters that last the life of the car. DIY guide →
- Battery check — test it for free at any auto parts store. Replace if it's over 4 years old proactively.
DIY savings: ~$400-600 per service
Every 50,000-60,000 Miles
- Coolant flush — prevents corrosion inside your engine and heater core. DIY guide →
- Transmission fluid — check your manual. Some are "lifetime fill" (they're not, but that's another article). DIY guide →
- Throttle body cleaning — improves idle quality and response. DIY guide →
- Serpentine belt inspection — look for cracking, glazing, or fraying. DIY guide →
DIY savings: ~$300-500 per service
Every 80,000-100,000 Miles
- Spark plugs — iridium plugs last 100K, copper plugs need replacing sooner. DIY guide →
- Timing belt (if equipped) — critical. A broken timing belt can destroy your engine. Check if your car has a belt or chain — chains usually don't need replacement. DIY guide →
- Water pump — often replaced with the timing belt since they're in the same area. DIY guide →
- Serpentine belt and tensioner replacement — belts wear out, tensioners lose spring tension. DIY guide →
- Differential fluid (if applicable) — DIY guide →
DIY savings: ~$500-1,500 per service
Things Dealers Push That You Can Usually Skip
- Engine flush — unnecessary if you change oil regularly. Can actually damage seals on high-mileage engines.
- Fuel injector cleaning service — a $10 bottle of fuel system cleaner in the tank does the same thing as a $200 dealer service.
- Transmission flush (vs. drain and fill) — power flushing can cause problems on older transmissions. A simple drain-and-fill is safer.
- Cabin air deodorizer — replace the cabin filter and spray some Lysol in the intake. Done.
- "30K/60K/90K service packages" — they bundle needed items with unnecessary ones at a premium. Do the items individually on the schedule above.
Track It All in One Place
Use our Maintenance Schedule tool to see exactly what's due for your specific vehicle. Select your year, make, model, and current mileage — we'll tell you what to do and link you to the guides.
And remember: every job you do yourself saves money and builds skills. Browse all 76+ repair guides to see what you can tackle at each interval.