You're searching for a Cadillac for sale, and you bought one you love. Now you're wondering, "how do I make sure my care is running this smoothly for as long as possible". Your car is a major investment. You want to make sure it runs correctly, but all the information on the internet disagrees. How do you know how often to take your vehicle in for maintenance?
Like most things in life, there's a short answer and a long answer. The short answer is simply to follow the schedule in the owner's manual in your car. The problem with this is it's not customized to your geolocation, the season you're in, how much you drive your car, etc. And all of that factors into the answer. Most manuals suggest getting it looked at the first 5000 miles and then the next five or ten thousand after that, but that's a great deal of variation. This guide won't provide you with all the answers, but it will give you some basic guidelines to know when to have your vehicle looked at by an expert.
Rely on the Electronic System
Most new cars have an electronic reminder system that relies on various conditions to remind you of services. In addition, some cars have a sophisticated system that specifies what you need. These systems tend to be very accurate so listening to your system is your best bet. The only exception is most manufacturers recommend you get your oil changed once a year, even if the light doesn't come on.
The 30-60-90 Maintenance System
If your car doesn't have an electronic system, many mechanics swear by the 30-60-90 system. In other words, schedule your maintenance at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles. Even though this is an old-school method, Consumer Reports assures you that your car can go many miles past those landmarks without a problem.
Other Mileage Maintenance Systems
Other mileage systems split maintenance schedules into two categories: normal service situations and extreme conditions. Extreme conditions can be any of the following:
- Extreme weather conditions, whether due to the heat, the cold, or even the dust.
- Urban driving where stop-and-start driving is unavoidable.
- Regularly carrying or towing something heavy.
AAA suggests that if your car falls under these conditions, you follow your owner's manual to the letter and take no chances. However, otherwise, get an oil change every 3000, 5000, or 7500 miles depending on the age of your car. Cars that use full-synthetic motor oil drive 15,000 miles between services.
Three-Six-Nine-Twelve System
Advance Auto Parts created a system that goes along with the tradition 30-60-90 system as they felt that certain car system needs more attention than that. Under their system, every three, six, nine, and twelve thousand miles, you serve a different part of your car. Your car's battery, cable, and belts every 3000 miles. All your fluids (transmission and windshield wiper) every 6,000 miles. Your power steering and lights every 9,000 miles and your coolant and tires once a year or every 12,000 miles. Change the routine if something happens, you can't get in on time, or a problem happens sooner. This is just a guideline.
How We Can Help
If you own a Cadillac, our dealership is full of Cadillac experts, don't hesitate to give us a call at (941) 312-2807 or visit us at 2200 Bee Ridge Road Monday – Saturday or click here for more information on maintenance.
