Scheduled maintenance in Calgary
We service your car on the schedule your manufacturer wrote for it, and we're straight with you about what's due and what isn't.
Scheduled maintenance is the list of services your manufacturer says your car needs at set kilometres or time intervals, like oil changes, filters, fluids and inspections. Wow Tire & Auto Repair in NE Calgary keeps manufacturer schedules on hand, looks up what's due for your vehicle, and does the work on every make and model.
Your car came with a maintenance schedule. It lists what needs doing and when, based on how the engineers designed that vehicle. At our Calgary shop we keep manufacturer schedules on hand, so when you come in we can look up what's due at your kilometres instead of guessing.
Following the schedule keeps small jobs small. It also gives you a service record, which helps with warranty claims and resale. Manufacturer warranties generally care that the work is done on time and to spec, with receipts to prove it, rather than where it was done. Your warranty booklet has the details.
What a maintenance schedule usually includes
Every manufacturer's list is different, but most cover the same kinds of items at different intervals. We do these services in the shop:
- Oil and filter changes with manufacturer-recommended viscosity oil
- Tire tread and pressure checks, and seasonal tire swaps
- Brake inspection and service
- Engine air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs as part of a tune-up
- Coolant testing and flushes
- Battery and charging system checks
- Belts, hoses and fluid inspections
- A/C and heating system checks
Normal or severe service: which schedule are you on?
Most manuals have two schedules. The normal one assumes mostly highway driving in mild weather. The severe one is for harder use, with shorter intervals.
A lot of Calgary drivers belong on the severe schedule and don't know it. Short trips where the engine never warms up, cold-weather idling, towing, gravel roads and stop-and-go traffic all count. If your commute is a few minutes of side streets in January, that's harder on the car than an hour on Deerfoot Trail in July. We'll help you work out which schedule fits the way you drive.
We'll tell you what can wait
Being honest about everything is one of our core promises. If an item on the schedule isn't due yet, we say so. If a part is wearing but has life left, we tell you roughly how much, so you can budget for it instead of being surprised.
Hybrids and electric vehicles have schedules too. Hybrids still need engine oil changes. EVs don't, but they still need tires, brakes, cabin filters, coolant checks and the 12-volt battery looked after.
How it goes at the shop
Look up your schedule
We check your manufacturer's maintenance schedule against your kilometres and age.
Confirm what's due
We tell you what's due now, what's coming up, and what's already been done if you have records.
Quote the work
You get a price up front, plus tax, before anything starts.
Do the service
We use parts and fluids that meet your manufacturer's specs.
Keep the record
You get an itemized receipt for your service history.
Questions we hear a lot
Still not sure? Call 403-454-7500 and ask. It's free to ask.
Do I have to service my car at the dealer to keep my warranty?
Usually not. Most manufacturer warranties require that scheduled maintenance is done on time and to the manufacturer's specifications, wherever it's done. Read your warranty booklet to confirm for your car. Keep receipts showing what was done and when, since those records are what a manufacturer asks for if you make a claim.
What's the difference between normal and severe maintenance schedules?
The severe schedule has shorter intervals for drivers who put more stress on the car. Short trips, extreme cold, idling, towing and dusty or gravel roads usually qualify. Many Calgary drivers fit the severe schedule because of winter. Your owner's manual explains which conditions your manufacturer counts.
What maintenance does my car need at 100,000 km?
It depends on the make and model. Common items around that point include spark plugs, coolant, transmission fluid on some vehicles, belts and a thorough brake and suspension check. Some engines also have a timing belt due. Give us your vehicle details and we'll look up your manufacturer's list.
Is skipping scheduled maintenance really a problem?
Skipping one item now and then won't usually cause immediate trouble, but it adds up. Old fluids and filters lead to wear, and a missed timing belt or coolant service can turn into a big repair. A spotty service record can also complicate a warranty claim.
Find out what's due on your car
Call 403-454-7500 with your year, make, model and kilometres. We'll check your manufacturer's schedule and quote the work.