should i take my car to dealer for maintenance?

[FrankieY18]

i bought my car in november...and it's almost 10k miles....should i bring my car back to the dealer for maintenance? I brought it back when it was 7500 miles and they rotated tires, checked brakes and etc.....and charged me $150 for it...i think it was a ripoff..consider at least they should wash my car...but just wondering if i should bring my car back there at 10K...or just bring it to jiffy lube or equivalent to ask them to do a quick check?

[537]

What kind of car is this?
How long do you plan on keeping it?
Do you plan on selling it, or do you plan on trading it in?

[deez nuts]

is there any benefits to taking it back to the dealer for a routine checkup and change if you can do it yourself?

[>:^|]

is there any benefits to taking it back to the dealer for a routine checkup and change if you can do it yourself?

I think some people believe that the dealer maintenance records will be a plus when they sell the car.

The dealer is almost always the most expensive place to get service. And it's interesting to note that the recommended service intervals for cars differ depending on where you are. I have a friend who has the same car I do who lives in the Netherlands; the recommended service intervals in his manual are much farther apart than mine.

[kboy75]

only if it was a luxury car and if i was planning on keeping it.

that, or if it is leased.

otherwise just go wherever.

[FrankieY18]

it's a 2003 lancer...i like the car and i'm planning to keep it for a while...

that's the thing...they said if you do the maintenance outside, call mitsubishi and tell them to update record and stuff....kinda save the trouble if i just do it w/ the dealer..but don't know if they do a better job or what....

my manual says i should do oil change every 7500 miles...but the dealer said..change it every 3000 miles...so i don't know...i'm thinking about doing oil change myself next time...but it's hitting 10k mark....don't know how important it is to bring it back...especially i just did a thorough checkup

[537]

You should change the oil every 3000 miles if you drive in a lot of stop and go scenarios. If you like accelerating hard from time to time, run at high rpm, or hit redline consistently, I would advise changing the oil and oil filter every 3000 miles or even more frequently. If you tend to gun it all the time or participate in stop-light drag races, every 2000 miles is a safer target.

On the other hand, if you drive normally and have never seen 5k rpm (assuming your Lancer redlines at 6.5k or so), I could picture you not changing the oil for about 5000 miles. Now you could go and change it every 7500 miles if you'd like, but you would either have to drive like a 70 year old lady on codeine, or end up with an engine that would need an overhaul at 60,000 miles.




Now your question about performing the regular maintenance yourself: I highly advise you do it. Just get an OEM oil filter, and fill up with quality oil that the dealer suggests. That way you don't void your warranty, and you get to look for yourself under the car just to make sure nothing's leaking. Assuming all your car needs is an oil change, that's not a problem. I would get familiar with your car's service intervals and what exactly is suggested by the manufacturer to have done to it. If it requires engine work such as performing valve inspections or leakdown tests or anything having to do with opening up the engine head, bring it in and have them do it. Some of it might even be covered under warranty.

[>:^|]

Just curious ... has anybody here ever had to prove that they kept their car serviced?

I save the receipts for my oil filter and oil and mark them with the date and the mileage. Is this sufficient proof?

[flip19]

^would you accept that if YOU were buying a car?

Stealerships are always a rip-off.

I'm waiting for the weather to get better so I can change my own oil.

That way I can drain it all the way.