Free service reminder tool
Maintenance Schedule Calculator — Never Miss a Service
Enter your last service dates and mileage — get exact due dates for oil, filters, brakes, fluids and every major service milestone.
Your Personal Service Schedule
Based on your driving — not generic guesses.
Why a Maintenance Schedule Matters
Most expensive car repairs start as cheap skipped maintenance. A $60 transmission service ignored becomes a $4,000 rebuild. Tracking services by both mileage and time catches everything before it fails.
Standard Service Intervals
- Oil change: every 5,000–7,500 miles (synthetic) or 6 months.
- Tire rotation: every 5,000–7,500 miles with oil changes.
- Brake fluid: every 2–3 years regardless of miles (it absorbs moisture).
- Coolant: every 60,000 miles or 5 years.
- Transmission fluid: every 60,000 miles (sooner for severe use).
- Spark plugs: every 60,000–100,000 miles depending on type.
- Timing belt: every 60,000–100,000 miles — never skip; failure destroys the engine.
Mileage vs Time — Whichever Comes First
Low-mileage drivers miss this: fluids degrade with age even parked. Brake fluid, coolant and oil all have time limits. If you drive 6,000 miles/year, service by the calendar, not the odometer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change my oil?
Every 5,000–7,500 miles with full synthetic, or every 6 months — whichever comes first. Severe driving (short trips, towing) shortens it to ~5,000.
What is severe driving?
Mostly short trips under 10 miles, stop-and-go traffic, towing, dusty roads or extreme temperatures. Most city drivers qualify — use the severe schedule.
Do I need to follow the dealer’s schedule?
Follow the manufacturer’s schedule in your owner’s manual — not the dealer’s upsell version, which often adds unnecessary services.
What happens if I skip the timing belt?
On interference engines, a snapped belt means pistons hit valves — a $3,000–$5,000 engine rebuild. Replace it on schedule, no exceptions.
Should low-mileage cars follow time or mileage?
Time. Fluids, belts and rubber degrade sitting still. Change oil every 6–12 months and brake fluid/coolant on their time intervals even with low miles.
More Free Car Tools
Explore all 40 free calculators — loans, insurance, fuel costs, maintenance and more.
Browse All Car Tools