Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Oil Change Every 3,000 miles, or 3 months. If heavy stop and go traffic or hilly terrain, sooner is better than later.
Spark Plugs First, there are different types of plugs- standard, platinum and iridium. Standard Once a year or every 15k. -Platinum and iridium Every 60,000 miles.
Air Filter/Cabin Air Filter Every year or 15k, unless very dusty conditions, then more frequently. It's only a few bucks so you can't go wrong.
Fuel Filter Consult the manual as this varies greatly, especially since some of them aren't even accessible any more. Avg of once per year if you can get to it.
PCV Valve Make a habit of changing it at every Air Filter change.
Ignition Wires Points Ignition (pre 1975)- Every 2 years.
Distributor Less Every 60k or 4 years. If they look old and are dry rotted, replace them regardless of the time.
Distributor Cap and Rotor Where applicable. Points Ignition(pre 1975)- Annually
HEI (1975 on) - Every 30k or 2 years.
Timing Belt This is manual specific and is critical as belt failure can cause serious engine damage in some models. The average life span of a belt is 60k, so change the belt at the recommended intervals as determined by the manufacturer of the engine. Don't guess.
Drive Belts AC, Power Steering, Alternator, etc.) Every 3 years or upon visual inspection where drying has set in. Remember, if a belt goes, you will be left stranded, so before you set out on any long trips, check them.
Transmission Fluid & Service Varies with driving style and load on the vehicle. If you are towing, or live in a mountainous region, the services should be more frequent to prolong the life of the transmission. Every 20-30k is a good baseline.
Rear Differential Service (if rear wheel drive) Every 60k or 4 years.
Tire Rotation Every 6 months or 7,500 miles. Rotate the tires from front to rear noting tire rotation if indicated on the tire sidewall.
Coolant (Anti-Freeze) Climate dictates this schedule as does the type of coolant used. Pay attention to the coolant mixture chart on the container as it give specific mixture requirements by climate/temperature. Change it every 2 years or 30K.
