Is 60K Service worth it?

novon

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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My car is coming up for it's scheduled 60K service, I read the manual and it's basically a fluid change and new spark plugs - for $249...I was wondering if it really is worth it...or should I just get my normal oil change?
 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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Originally posted by: novon
My car is coming up for it's scheduled 60K service, I read the manual and it's basically a fluid change and new spark plugs - for $249...I was wondering if it really is worth it...or should I just get my normal oil change?

Routine matinance is ALWAYS worth it. Just do it yourself though if it's just fluid changes & spark plugs though (or pay the $249 if you are too lazy/busy). What fluids does it reccomend you change btw? What car?

<-Preparing to take my car in for it's routine 105,000 mile matinance.
 

Scootin159

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2001
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Originally posted by: datalink7
Spark plugs are easy to change. Do them yourself.

Depends on the car....some cars you actually have to pull the engine to change spark plugs.
 

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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I'd guess they will do a diagnostic using equipment you do not have. However, IF you are getting the expected fuel milage and can change fluids and can follow all maintianence intervals as stated in the owners manual, no it's not worth it.

However if, like most folks, you do not have the experience or the tools needed the yes it's worth it.

Pay them now or pay them later if this doesn't get done.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,996
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Scheduled maintainence is NEVER worth it. It's collusion between the dealer and the manufacturer to help them make more money on parts and labor. Just change your oil and filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and have the timing belt changed whenever mandated. For most cars it's 80,000-100,000 and it's imperitive that you don't skip that step. Timing belts do wear out and break and if they go it's goodbye engine.

Otherwise, they're hitting you up for several hours of labor to inspect hoses, check fluid levels and do other stuff you can check yourself in your driveway in 20 minutes. Bag all those overpriced scheduled maintainance rip-offs and take the care in once a year to a trusted local mechanic for a brief inspection and a cooling system flush/fill. For the most part cars let you know when something is wrong. If the hoses are bad you'll see fliud in your driveway. Brakes have audible wear sensors so they screech when they need to be replaced, there's no need to check pad width. Fluid levels are marked and easy to check. Mileage and power decrease if the plugs are bad, etc etc etc. There isn't really a need to keep taking it in to the dealer to check if something is wrong. You might go to a doctor for a physical once a year, but would you really do it 6 to 12 times a year? Of course not and the same applies to your car. Repeat after me:
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
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don't do the plugs yourself unless you have a torque wrench and you know the proper torque pressure for your car. stripped or loose plugs are bad news.

i once had a poor mechanic put a couple plugs in loose. they worked their way out and ejected from the engine, bouncing off the hood. scorched some valves, and it cost a lot of money for the valve job.

i think i would take to a mechanic, but they shouldn't charge you more than $100 for everything.
 

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
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Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Scheduled maintainence is NEVER worth it. It's collusion between the dealer and the manufacturer to help them make more money on parts and labor. Just change your oil and filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and have the timing belt changed whenever mandated. For most cars it's 80,000-100,000 and it's imperitive that you don't skip that step. Timing belts do wear out and break and if they go it's goodbye engine.

Otherwise, they're hitting you up for several hours of labor to inspect hoses, check fluid levels and do other stuff you can check yourself in your driveway in 20 minutes. Bag all those overpriced scheduled maintainance rip-offs and take the care in once a year to a trusted local mechanic for a brief inspection and a cooling system flush/fill. For the most part cars let you know when something is wrong. If the hoses are bad you'll see fliud in your driveway. Brakes have audible wear sensors so they screech when they need to be replaced, there's no need to check pad width. Fluid levels are marked and easy to check. Mileage and power decrease if the plugs are bad, etc etc etc. There isn't really a need to keep taking it in to the dealer to check if something is wrong. You might go to a doctor for a physical once a year, but would you really do it 6 to 12 times a year? Of course not and the same applies to your car. Repeat after me:
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt


If you are going to keep that car for a few years, the above is just plain wrong!

Fluids wear out or get contaminated.

Preventative care for your car is THE key to reliability!

If a hose goes bad on the road it's likely you will pay MUCH more than this service will cost. If the car overheats you could ruin the complete motor!

Is the transmission an automatic? Even if it's a standard tranny the fluid has a recommended interval for replacement.

The brake fluid should be flushed and a dragging brake pad will ruin the rotor, pads and cause you to get lousy mileage. It could cause an accident too! All without those wear sensors clicking.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
56,702
17,181
146
Originally posted by: Tominator
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Scheduled maintainence is NEVER worth it. It's collusion between the dealer and the manufacturer to help them make more money on parts and labor. Just change your oil and filter every 3,000 to 5,000 miles and have the timing belt changed whenever mandated. For most cars it's 80,000-100,000 and it's imperitive that you don't skip that step. Timing belts do wear out and break and if they go it's goodbye engine.

Otherwise, they're hitting you up for several hours of labor to inspect hoses, check fluid levels and do other stuff you can check yourself in your driveway in 20 minutes. Bag all those overpriced scheduled maintainance rip-offs and take the care in once a year to a trusted local mechanic for a brief inspection and a cooling system flush/fill. For the most part cars let you know when something is wrong. If the hoses are bad you'll see fliud in your driveway. Brakes have audible wear sensors so they screech when they need to be replaced, there's no need to check pad width. Fluid levels are marked and easy to check. Mileage and power decrease if the plugs are bad, etc etc etc. There isn't really a need to keep taking it in to the dealer to check if something is wrong. You might go to a doctor for a physical once a year, but would you really do it 6 to 12 times a year? Of course not and the same applies to your car. Repeat after me:
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt
Oil changes and timing belt

If you are going to keep that car for a few years, the above is just plain wrong!

Fluids wear out or get contaminated.

Preventative care for your car is THE key to reliability!

If a hose goes bad on the road it's likely you will pay MUCH more than this service will cost. If the car overheats you could ruin the complete motor!

Is the transmission an automatic? Even if it's a standard tranny the fluid has a recommended interval for replacement.

The brake fluid should be flushed and a dragging brake pad will ruin the rotor, pads and cause you to get lousy mileage. It could cause an accident too! All without those wear sensors clicking.

I agree, but he is half right. The frequency mandated in most car manuals are ridiculously high. The timing belt change at 60,000 miles is WAY too soon. I've seen few, if any break before 100,000 miles. Oh, and to the person who said a broken timing belt screws an engine: Only a few engines these days will be shot if the timing belt/chain breaks. Most will just simply stop running until the belt/chain is replaced.

And don't get me started on the 3000 mile oil change rule. That is SUCH a marketing scam, and it only happens here in the US. In most of the world, oil changes are 5000-10,000 miles... on the VERY same cars and engines sold here. You'll note that most car makes will suddenly raise the standard to 5000 miles or more when they include maintenance free with the car.

But I agree that hoses, all belts, and fluids MUST be kept up.
Another consideration is warranty. Does it violate BB and PT warranties if one does not follow the mandated service schedule?
 

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
1
0
I've seen motors destroyed by timing belt problems, some soon after the recommended interval. It does depend on the model how tight to the recommendation one would stick, but the average owner doesn't know the idiosyncracys of their car.

A break down over the road involving a timing chain could easily have paid for EVERY recommended interval!

However, if one knows when they will get rid of the car and it is within 100,000 miles, I'd agree. Oil changes and screw the rest! The 'rest' being defined as the next owner.:p
 

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
1
0
Originally posted by: Amused


I agree, but he is half right. The frequency mandated in most car manuals are ridiculously high. The timing belt change at 60,000 miles is WAY too soon. I've seen few, if any break before 100,000 miles. Oh, and to the person who said a broken timing belt screws an engine: Only a few engines these days will be shot if the timing belt/chain breaks. Most will just simply stop running until the belt/chain is replaced.

And don't get me started on the 3000 mile oil change rule. That is SUCH a marketing scam, and it only happens here in the US. In most of the world, oil changes are 5000-10,000 miles... on the VERY same cars and engines sold here. You'll note that most car makes will suddenly raise the standard to 5000 miles or more when they include maintenance free with the car.

But I agree that hoses, all belts, and fluids MUST be kept up.
Another consideration is warranty. Does it violate BB and PT warranties if one does not follow the mandated service schedule?

I've seen two timing belts go at around 70,000 miles. It's really dependent on age and wear on the car. In one of the cases it blew the engine. If your engine is throttled to 3000rpm and you break the timing belt you have very good odds of slamming a piston into a valve before the engine winds down, how much damage that does is a function of chance but the odds of impact are very high. As far as oil changes go, the more frequent the better, oil is the cleaner to remove carbon waste from your engine, the more frequently you change it the less wear on the metal you will get from the carbon suspended in the oil.

Plugs are also a great cheap way to keep your fuel efficiency at it's maximum, and they are cheap.