What Car Maintenance is Due at 30k, 60k, 90k, and 100k Miles?
To keep your car in working order for as long as possible, you have to keep up with maintenance. Most drivers know to keep up with regular oil changes and tune-ups, but they may not be aware of the more in-depth maintenance services that are needed the more you drive. Minnesota’s Total Auto Care is here to break down your mandatory milestone maintenance.
What Maintenance Service Does My Car Need At 30,000 Miles?
According to the Federal Highway Administration, American drivers in 2023 averaged 12,200 miles per year, meaning most drivers will reach 30k miles on their new vehicle in two to three years. This is just enough time for car parts to start experiencing wear and tear from use. The 30k mile maintenance service is a chance to start protecting your car’s longevity and endurance right out of the gate with good care habits.
Change Oil and Oil Filter
There is a reason everyone thinks about oil changes as the go-to auto maintenance service. Replacing the engine’s oil and filter will keep it moving smoothly and prevent overheating.
Change Air Filters
Both the engine air filter and cabin air filter should be changed to keep clean air moving freely to the engine and to you and your passengers.
Fluid Checks
Any essential auto fluids that have run low or become dirty need to be topped off or replaced. Too little fluid, or fluid in bad condition can lead to safety hazards or damage to your car.
Transmission Fluid — top off as needed for smooth gear shifts
Brake Fluid — check amount and quality of brake fluid; flush and replace if needed for best braking function
Coolant/Antifreeze — top off as needed to prevent overheating
Power Steering Fluid — top off as needed for steering functionality
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Rotating tires — removing them and changing their position on the car front to back and/or left to right — prevents uneven wear, extending their life. During this process, your auto techs will also inspect your tires, checking the air pressure, tread depth, and physical condition.
Battery Check
After only two years, your battery is likely still in good condition. However, it should still be tested to ensure that is the case and checked for any corrosion on the terminals.
Check Hoses and Belts
Any rubber components in a vehicle can wear down faster than the sturdier, metal parts. Check on hoses, belts, and the windshield wiper blade for signs of wear so they can be replaced before they break.
Inspect Suspension and Steering System
This early in a car’s life, this may only require a visual inspection, but the shocks, struts, and other components can take a beating as they keep your drive comfortable. Additionally, a wheel alignment, which adjusts the angles at which the wheels sit in relation to the car, should be performed at 30k.
Brake Inspection
Brake maintenance is crucial for the safety of the driver and passengers of the car, but also anyone on the road with them. The brake pads and rotors should be checked and replaced if necessary, as we recommended with the brake fluid above.
Car Maintenance at 60k Miles
A car hits 60,000 miles after around five years of driving. Ideally, throughout these five years, drivers have kept up with their routine maintenance service schedule recommended by their manufacturer. To build on the general maintenance from the 30k service, the 60k milestone service will dig a little deeper. Since the vehicle has gone further, aged more, and taken on more wear and tear, it’s important to check more thoroughly.
All 30k Mile Maintenance
Just because your auto technicians will be introducing new maintenance services does not mean that the standard tasks should fall to the wayside. They will check fluids, filters, brakes, and other systems to keep your vehicle working well as a whole .
Additional Fluid Services
At this point, some of your car’s fluids need more than a top off.
Transmission Fluid — time to flush or replace your transmission fluid
Brake Fluid — brake fluid can lose its stopping power as it absorbs moisture, so it needs to be replaced
Coolant — coolant can become acidic overtime, so it needs to be flushed
Inspect Hoses and Belts
By now, the hoses and belts have been in use for approximately 5 years. While we checked on these at the 30k mark, they should be inspected in more detail for any cracking or other signs of wear.
Fuel and Engine System Services
It’s time to check the condition of all aspects of the engine. At a 60k mile service, your Total Auto Care technician will examine the exhaust and cooling systems, clean the fuel injectors, and replace any spark plugs that need it.
90,000 Mile Maintenance Service
A car with 90k miles on it is seven to eight years old, and relies on maintenance and upkeep to ensure it keeps driving for a lot longer. The 90k mile mark is certainly impressive, and as before with the 60k mile service, will introduce some new aspects of maintenance to focus on.
All 30k and 60k Mile Maintenance
The standard maintenance performed at 30k miles and the added steps from the 60k service will be performed during the 90k mile service to ensure nothing is missed, even in the basic maintenance steps.
Replace Timing Belt
The timing belt, a crucial component for moving and coordinating parts of the engine, can cause complete and ruinous engine failure if it snaps, and 90k miles of wear can put it at risk of snapping. The belt must be inspected thoroughly and replaced if needed.
Inspect Water Pump
A failed water pump can lead to an overheating engine and coolant leaks. The pump will be inspected for signs of damage and replaced if necessary.
Inspect Suspension
The suspension system of a vehicle takes a lot of force and strain over the years. After 90k miles, it’s time to dive deep into the details and check for any possible parts — shocks, struts, wheel bearings, etc. — that are too worn and need replacement.
What to Expect at a 100k Mile Service
Congratulations on reaching 100,000 miles in your vehicle! According to the average, this took about eight years, and probably a great deal of effort maintaining your car, which includes this 100k mile maintenance service! We’ve mentioned a lot of different maintenance and service tasks at each milestone so far, but at this point, you’ve now heard it all.
Your 100,000 mile maintenance service will include all previous checks and inspections — brake system, fuel system, replacing filters, topping off fluids, checking tires and belts — with depth and care considering the time and weathering the vehicle’s been through. Your Total Auto Care technician knows to watch for the wear, tear, and damage details and will stay diligent even through the most standard maintenance tasks.
Maintenance at Any Mileage at Total Auto Care
Every car, no matter the age, make, or model needs maintenance to keep going. Unsure of what your car needs or where to start? We can set you and your vehicle up with a maintenance schedule whether you’re at 2,000 miles or 200,000. Stop by, book an appointment, or give us a call to learn more.
