Hi.
This is probably a very stupid question but I've heard varying answers and even some horror stories about certain services so I wanted to get opinions. I am wondering how important some of the "Factory Scheduled Maintenance" services are. Like all the extra services Jiffy Lube tries to get you to get when you get your oil changed. I don't know much about cars, but I have been changing my own oil for a few years when I have the shelter available to do so. But when I used to go to Jiffy Lube back in the day I always declined the extra services that I always seemed to be "due" for, including the transmission flush. To me it does make sense to get a transmission flush as it would clean out your tranny but I've heard some stories that it can do more harm than good?? (By the way this isn't biased to Jiffy Lube, I will go anywhere to get these extra services done if I need to.) The only extra service I remember getting done at a place like Jiffy Lube is replacing the serpentine belt because it had visible cracks in it. What about other types of "flushes"? And brakes? I haven't had those replaced in a while but they are working fine...is there a common time you are supposed to get them replaced? Other than changing my own oil, topping off fluids, rotating tires and changing lights, that's about all I know/do myself.
This truck has been VERY reliable for me...it has almost 184,000 miles now and I've owned it since about the 80,000 mark with the only major problems being having to replace the starter and getting a leaf spring fixed, to my recollection. I really don't have the money to get a new vehicle right now and if I did I would probably still want to just drive this til it dies, get everything I can out of it. So if anyone could recommend what I services I should be getting done, how often and where at this 183,450 mile mark to keep me going, that would be great!
Thanks!