30k Maintenance discussion

[purduecmpe]

All,
I just wanted to get some opinions on what is required for a good 30k maintenance. The dealership near me hear in Austin, TX recommends the following:

Change Engine Oil and Filter
Install Oil Conditioner
Lubricate Chassis
Replace Air Filter
Inspect/Adjust Brakes
Tranny Flush
Service Battery
Flush power steering and rack and pinion aseembly
Fuel induction service
Replace fuel filter
All for a package price of $522.00

The Maintenance Guide Recs:
Change Engine Oil and Filter
Replace Air Filter
Replace fuel filter
Tranny Flush
Local Dealer price: $222.00

I opted for the $222 option, but I am wondering if I am neglecting my baby. What do y'all think?

Go Purdue! :beer:

[Skiordie53]

just had everything you mentioned in the first option done at my dealer here in NY for $399. don't think you are neglecting, you did the most important parts.

[RF Overlord]

purdue, you did exactly right.

"Install oil conditioner"...absolutely worthless and perhaps even harmful, depending on what miracle-in-a-can glop they throw in.
"Inspect/adjust brakes"...the MM has 4-wheel discs; there IS nothing to adjust.
"Service battery"...it's a maintenance-free...there IS nothing to "service".
"Fuel induction service"...again, worthless. You can do just as well putting a can of Techron in the tank every couple of months.

So the only other thing their package would do for you that's even remotely useful is the power steering flush...but again, you can do almost as well by occasionally using a turkey baster to suction out the PS reservoir, and refilling with fresh Mercon.

[purduecmpe]

The only thing I was worried about is the power steering flush... I can't find anywhere in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide saying to do this... Anyone have any idea?

[Blackened300a]

Lubricate Chassis
?? I went from the front to the back in search of grease fittings while my car was on a lift. I Can't find a single one! Not even the tie rod ends or the control arm bushings have fittings. I think they like to put that in there to make the un-informed customer shell out more cash for services that cant be performed.

[Blackened300a]

The only thing I was worried about is the power steering flush... I can't find anywhere in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide saying to do this... Anyone have any idea?
Get out your turkey baster like was said and suction it all out, Then add fresh Mercon. It's easy to do. But Im sure the Dealer would be happy to charge you almost $30 to perform the Same Procedure!

[wchain]

All,
I just wanted to get some opinions on what is required for a good 30k maintenance. The dealership near me hear in Austin, TX recommends the following:

Change Engine Oil and Filter 9.99 at LM Dealer with Coupon
Install Oil Conditioner :bs:
Lubricate Chassis Everything in the Chasisis/Steeing is Sealed
Replace Air Filter 11.99 for Counter List Price from your dealer or less from Auto Zone
Inspect/Adjust Brakes Theres nothing to Adjust 4 wheel disc, and I doubt they would adjust the parking brake, you can see your pads while you are washing your car, and inside pads while you're under there changing the oil, they should be looking at it anyway under the standard 21 point inspection at the dealer.[b/]
Tranny Flush [b] Go to the mercury service website, the local dealers here have coupson service for $99.99 for Mercon V Flush, what happened to the 100K interval that the salesman pushed so much? Either way, 30k Trans Service or Flush is cautious maintenance and a good idea anyway.
Service Battery As RF Said, and the Owners Manual its Maintenance Free. The only issue I see is if you're terminals are leaking, then that would be under your 3/36 Warranty, let that cover it.
Flush power steering and rack and pinion aseembly At 30K? :bs:
Fuel induction service if youre really worried, buy some techron and a can of throttle body cleaner, 15 bucks total
Replace fuel filter You can do this yourself, for about 10 dollars, or spend 50 bucks max to have it replaced

All for a package price of $522.00

My estimate here is under 200 bucks the way I see it


The Maintenance Guide Recs:
Change Engine Oil and Filter
Replace Air Filter
Replace fuel filter
Tranny Flush
Local Dealer price: $222.00

Uh huh



I opted for the $222 option, but I am wondering if I am neglecting my baby.

What do y'all think?
Nah. Youre just fine the way you did it. the dealer probably has a Wyhnns Flushing machine and they want to flush everything and make big money off of you. You made the right choice.
Gig'em Aggies!

[younga1]

Just hit the 30K mark myself. :(

Had the trans. serviced (filter change) and flushed, front end alignment (CARFIXER specs), new front tires (KDWS) balanced rears, oil change and a wash. All for $620.00 I guess not to bad from a dealer service dept.
I'll catch the fuel filter myself with the next oil change.

[Petrograde]

I'm almost due my 30K,.. I'm gonna flush the transmission (I do it every 10K), change the brake pads (maybe, I gotta check 'em out at least), and I'm giving some serious thought about flushing my brake fluid, and maybe the rear end?

purduecmpe,.. that first service is expensive, even for Austin! :eek:

BTW- If you need a top notch installer and tuner check out CCS Tuning (http://www.ccstuning.com/index.htm) in P-ville. The place is top notch! :up: Jim is squared away!

[BillyGman]

The rear end fluid can easily go for 70-100K w/out being changed. No need to change it after merely 30K.

[Petrograde]

The rear end fluid can easily go for 70-100K w/out being changed. No need to change it after merely 30K.

ok,.. I wasn't sure about the interval, I figured someone would post it. Thanks Billy! :up:

[BillyGman]

ok,.. I wasn't sure about the interval, I figured someone would post it. Thanks Billy! :up:You're welcome. I do agree with your practice of having the transmission fluid changed often. Ford calls for it to be changed every 24K, but I believe that if you drive your MM hard like some of us do, that changing it more often than that is a good rule of thumb to go by. And even more so for those of us who have S/Ced our cars.

[mercmatt]

just got my 30k check up done. at first dealer told me it was goiung to be about $650. but he couldnt tell me what it consisted of. just said we go throught the car. then said f that and told him what i wanted done...

oil change
fuel filter change
rear end fluid change
tranny flush
check the axles for wear

this came to about $485.00

[Bluerauder]

I do agree with your practice of having the transmission fluid changed often.
I am on an 18K-20K transmission flush schedule. :D Lots of stop-and-go commuting traffic followed by spirited romps whenever I can. :rolleyes:

[427435]

I would find another place to service your car. This dealer is full of :bs: and can't be trusted. And then car dealers wonder why they have such a bad reputation!!

[jgc61sr2002]

I also agree with RF, you chose the right service.

[CRUZTAKER]

I have just turned 30k as well. I had the tranny j-mod done at 20k....so that fluid is good. Lid replaced my LSD at 23k...so that is good. The break pads appear as new...apparently I don't stop very often.:P

The radiator and fuel filter have never been tended to however.

I sure would like to hear from some more folks regarding the power steering fluid change however. I have never done this to ANY of the cars I've owned. Heck...the beater Vic has over 150k on that fluid.
And break fluid...does it really need replaced already?

[WolfeBros]

Power steering fluid change is BS. You don't need to do it.
I agree with RF. You picked the right service.
I also just passed the 30K mark. The biggest service I did was tranny fluid and filter change along with engine oil/filter, air filter.

[Rider90]

?? I went from the front to the back in search of grease fittings while my car was on a lift. I Can't find a single one! Not even the tie rod ends or the control arm bushings have fittings. I think they like to put that in there to make the un-informed customer shell out more cash for services that cant be performed.
Same here. All I found to grease up are the steering stops.

[David Morton]

The Overlord is mostly right, take a turkey baster and replace what's in the P/S reservior every 30K since you'll only be getting about half the fluid out and diluting the rest, so you want to do that more often. I'm doing a drain and fill of the coolant as well as a line flush of the ATF every 15K because it's cheap insurance.

Brake fluid is hydromorphic, that is to say it absorbs moisture, so if you're always removing the cap and checking it, it'll go bad sooner and once it goes bad lots of other things go bad real fast. On an all disc brake system with an opaque reservior there's no reason to do that really because if it looks low it's time to replace pads. Just squeeze some new ones on and you're good to go, leave that cap alone. If you don't expose the brake fluid to the air, it can go for 50K before you flush it. That's about the time I'd be servicing the rear axle anyways, if the clutches last that long.

You can't go wrong replacing the fluids often.

[Donny Carlson]

I'm almost due my 30K,.. I'm gonna flush the transmission (I do it every 10K), change the brake pads (maybe, I gotta check 'em out at least), and I'm giving some serious thought about flushing my brake fluid, and maybe the rear end?

purduecmpe,.. that first service is expensive, even for Austin! :eek:

BTW- If you need a top notch installer and tuner check out CCS Tuning (http://www.ccstuning.com/index.htm) in P-ville. The place is top notch! :up: Jim is squared away!
Tom, I'd be surprised if you need new pads or a brake system flushing. My pads were fine at 30K and my techs said the flush should wait as well. I'm having new pads pud on all around -- with a flush and resurfacing of the rear rotors -- in a couple of weeks at the 60K mark.

My trans had complete fluid change when the new deap pan went on at 20K, then it was flushed at 40K. That is worth it for sure.

Rear end fluid was changed out at 30 k due a leaking seal that required a tear down.

Good luck, man.

[Petrograde]

Tom, I'd be surprised if you need new pads or a brake system flushing. My pads were fine at 30K and my techs said the flush should wait as well. I'm having new pads pud on all around -- with a flush and resurfacing of the rear rotors -- in a couple of weeks at the 60K mark.

My trans had complete fluid change when the new deap pan went on at 20K, then it was flushed at 40K. That is worth it for sure.

Rear end fluid was changed out at 30 k due a leaking seal that required a tear down.

Good luck, man.

hmm,.. well, I guess I'll check to see what the pads look like soon.(the rotors are nice and smooth) I'd be kinda suprised if they were more than 50%, I'm kinda hard on her. On that note, my brake fluid does smell slightly burnt. I'll take a closer look at this though.

I'm hoping to go to a deeper pan next year. :burnout: