I have a Town and Country Mini Van and it has 16K miles on it. I called to make our regular oil change appointment at the dealership. We have coupons for the first 12 oil changes. We have always changed the oil every 3 months (I only drive 2K miles or so every 3 months).
So I was told I need to get the 15K mile service done and it will be $257.00. I asked what they did and they said, Engine Oil Flush, Fuel Injector Cleaner and Battery Service. I think this is a little much. What should I expect to pay for this type of service? Our other car we take to a drive through service station (Oil Stop) and I thought they did a Engine oil Flush for a lot less. Is it the same type of service? And what does a Fuel Injector Clean entail?
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
The cost of maintenance will depend heavily on your car, what type of mechanic you choose to take it to (expert in your make/model, dealership, quickie oil change place, etc), and your geographical location. However, what you list really sounds like you're being ripped off. No car that new should need an %26quot;engine oil flush%26quot; or a %26quot;fuel injector cleaner%26quot;, and I'm not even sure what a %26quot;battery service%26quot; is. If you're getting oil changes every 2000 miles, you're probably getting WAY more than you need.
For a car as new as yours, refer to the owner's manual for recommended service intervals. Unless you're driving in extreme conditions (very cold or very hot weather, snow, daily and excessive stop and go traffic, lots of very short trips) following those intervals should keep your car in great shape. Most newer cars I've seen recommend oil changes every 5000 or even 10000 miles. An oil change can cost anywhere from $10-15 to $100 or so if you're using synthetic oil (which lasts longer and is recommended for certain cars). You should also follow your maintenance schedule for the other more %26quot;major%26quot; services, most cars will have those recommended every 12,000 or 20,000 miles. If you're concerned about how much the dealership charges for those (and in most cases, you should be!) get a quote from a local independent mechanic for the same service. You can pick a mechanic that is AAA recommended, an expert in your car make/model, and well recommended by someone you know in your neighborhood (or well reviewed on Yelp) if you're worried about quality. It's important to know that going to a mechanic outside of the dealership during your warranty WILL NOT void your warranty as long as you do have all the recommended maintenance done. Just make sure to keep all your maintenance records in case there are ever any questions.How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
yes dealer maintenance is always more expenisive , i think your changing your engine oil far too often any wayHow much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
Look in your owners manual %26amp; see what it says for a 15K service. No, you shouldn't need an engine flush unless it has 'Break-in'' oil that needs to be flushed. Service departments are generally a rip off %26amp; have been for years. Just take it to your neighborhood garage for service.How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
you don't need the engine flushed on your van and a can of injector cleaner at any auto parts store is only around 5 to 10 dollars and i'm sure the battery is fine also. on average batteries last 3 to 5 years or longer.How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
first mistake going to dealer for a oil change shouldnt need
Engine Oil Flush in 20 years just needs oil replace on time
Fuel Injector Cleaner cost like 2 bucks at any store you can just pour in yourself once a month or so to keep it clean
and Battery Service can do that anywhere take 5 minute to clean it
most batteries good for 5 yrs just cleaning and topping off
if low anyone can do that
I think this is too much as well
shouldnt be going to dealership who sells car when shops repair them oil change cost like 20 bucks many places
any shop can service a car cheaper easy to make a few phone calls to local shops really it just depend on what your cars needs are at time
but dont use a drive thru oil change they dont check much and many time just a kid or bum off street doing it any shop can do a much better job just call a few shops know what you want done get a price and some of the things you can do yourself
What do to is first stop paying for things one doesnt need learn
not to go to dealership for simple maintenance or service any name brand shop wouldnt cost 50 bucks to have a car service
knowing your cars needs is what keeps them running
knowing about you car easy to learn
wasting money if you just let a shop handle everything they in business to make money some wil do more than it needs such as add a fuel treatment two bucks engine flush waste of money even if its a old car shouldnt need it in 20 years battery service basic just cleaning it checking power of it autozone will test it for free
Fuel Injector Cleaner you can do your selfHow much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
yes that is a bit much for what they are going to do....
I don't understand the part about %26quot;fuel injector cleaner%26quot;, you usually do this when you suspect that the injectors are clogging up (not at 16K). Are they at least going to change the fuel filter ??? for that kind of money... sheesh......How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
you do NOT need an engine oil flush that's a gimmick to get more money out of you an oil change is sufficient. fuel injector cleaner same thing don't need it, do it your shelf.buy the stuff at an auto place and but in your gas tank 3 bucks. batter service is a joke most are sealed and just need to be cleaned ever once in a while.How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
First things first - get out the user's manual that came with the car and read very carefully what the 15,000-mile service interval entails. I would be very surprised if the recommended maintenance at this mileage includes anything more than an oil change and possibly, a tire rotation. The rest of the stuff they want to charge you for sounds both excessive and unnecessary.
You should not need the oil %26quot;flush%26quot; at all. That procedure involves forcing a solvent through the lubrication channels with the engine off, to remove sludge. The car is too new for any kind of gunk to be building up in your crankcase; you would do something like this to a much older car Likewise, you should not need to do anything to your fuel injectors unless the car is running rough and your %26quot;check engine%26quot; light is on. Once again, at this mileage, it's very unlikely that there are any problems with your injectors. If you're concerned about them, try running a tank of premium gas through them, or just take the car out for a nice, long drive on the Interstate. And the %26quot;battery service%26quot; they describe probably consists of wiping off the terminals.
Once you know what Chrysler recommends for the car, contact their customer service and complain about the dealer. You can get the oil change and tire rotation done for about 50 bucks somewhere else. As long as you keep records of what was done, and you have met the factory maintenance requirements stated in the owner's manual, your warranty will remain in force.How much should I expect Routine maintenance to be?
The first thing I would do is check your owner檚 manual for the manufacturer檚 15K service recommendations.
It檚 likely that your dealership is offering to provide services above and beyond what the manufacturer recommends at 15K. They often assume most people won檛 bother comparing what the dealer檚 %26quot;15K service%26quot; includes and what檚 actually recommended by the manufacturer.
You can request that the dealer do just what檚 recommended by the manufacturer and see if the price goes down. If it doesn檛, take your business elsewhere.
I recently took my SUV to the dealer for its %26quot;30K service%26quot; based on the recommendations of the manufacturer (mostly just inspections of various items). The total was $175 including labor, supplies, and disposal. I know I probably could save a little taking it to a quick-lube shop, but I prefer being able to take care of warranty items in one stop.
