Getting work done at the auto repair shop can be costly, especially when they tell you of services your vehicle just doesn’t need. While brake pad, tire, fluid, and battery service are important (but often overlooked) maintenance procedures, the following auto services are often pushed by quick-lube shops, dealerships and repair shops to help you pay more money when you don’t have to. If a vehicle is running right, you should probably skip these auto repair shop upsells.

Cutting down on vehicle costs doesn’t mean you will have to sacrifice quality. The best way to cut down maintenance costs is to adhere to your vehicle’s servicing schedule rather than meeting all of the items that a repair shop recommends. Your owner’s manual contains the details on everything from fluid changes to check-ups and more. Knowing the objective behind the services companies advertise can help you put a stop to unnecessary, and often time expensive, services.

1. Overly Frequent Oil Changes

A In most newer cars, not anymore. Because of advances in engine design and better synthetic lubricants, certain newer vehicles can safely go many more miles between oil changes. Most vehicles today can go from 5,000 to 7,500 miles, but some go as far as 10,000 miles before an oil change is necessary. If you change your oil before the manufacturer’s required service interval, you may be throwing good oil away, just by adhering to quick-lube reminders over the years which means you end up spending more money unnecessarily on maintenance.

Modern Oil Change Facts:

• Traditional 3,000-mile intervals are outdated for many vehicles
• Synthetic oils support longer replacement intervals
• Some vehicles allow intervals reaching 10,000 miles
• Oil life monitors track lubricant replacement requirements
• Factory recommendations should determine actual service timing

More oil changes don’t necessarily mean better protection for the engine if the oil is being changed before it has actually reached its service limit. Each additional oil change entails removing the drain plug and contaminating new oil with more old oil and handling an extra handful of components that can be, and sometimes are, overlooked during replacement. Many vehicles have some form of oil life indicator system that will determine the frequency based on conditions, use that system with the other recommendations instead of a sticker, and your engine’s needs.

2. Chemical Engine Flushes

Chemical engine flushes are often marketed as a solution for cleaning away sludge and other deposits. In fact, today’s engine oils include detergent agents that hold debris in suspension so they can be flushed out during service. Routine servicing of engines that are maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions is usually sufficient to remove accumulated deposits. An engine may not need to be subjected to harsh chemical agents unless it is being driven with a build-up of sludge or restricted oil flow due to neglect.

Engine Flush Considerations:

• Modern engine oils contain cleaning detergent additives
• Regular oil changes remove suspended internal contaminants
• Aggressive solvents can loosen accumulated sludge deposits
• Dislodged debris may restrict important lubrication passages
• Older engines can develop leaks after aggressive flushing

Chemical flushing sometimes causes issues, because the dislodged heavy debris can circulate through the lubrication system. This debris might plug tiny oil passages and cause issues with lubrication of key internal parts. If a vehicle is higher mileage or older, there’s a secondary issue the accumulated sludge can, in essence, temporarily seal tiny gaps around aging gaskets and seals, and cleaning those away can cause leaks. Aside from a concern properly diagnosed by a trained technician, it usually makes more sense to follow the oil change schedule.

3. Premium Fuel in Standard Engines

Premium doesn’t necessarily make your car run better over regular, even if it costs more. Premium fuel’s higher octane rating, which is usually 91 to 94, is designed to make engines that run on high-compression or turbochargers run smoother. Premium fuel doesn’t typically have a lot of benefits for engines that are built to run on regular, 87 octane, non-turbo-fueled automobiles. If you’re using premium in your car without researching or consulting your owner’s manual, it’s unlikely that you will experience any substantive increase in your horsepower, acceleration, or fuel efficiency.

Fuel Grade Facts:

• Premium gasoline generally carries higher octane ratings
• High-compression engines may require premium fuel
• Standard engines usually operate on regular gasoline
• Higher octane does not guarantee improved fuel economy
• Owner’s manuals specify the recommended fuel grade

Additional testing has also revealed that many engines built for regular gasoline gain little or no benefit in terms of performance by using a higher octane rating of premium fuel. Some vehicle engines may also yield little or no benefit from a higher priced gasoline with a higher octane rating. The design of the vehicle’s engine determines which grade of octane should be used, but it is never to be assumed that premium fuel is better. Vehicle owners should refer to the owner’s manual or the label on the fuel door of a vehicle to determine which premium octane rating is best to use.

4. Routine Fuel Injector Cleaning

Many services advertise professional cleaner injections during routine service intervals. These treatments are often priced between $150 and $300, even when the vehicle isn’t exhibiting issues with fuel delivery. Today’s fuel injectors are high pressure devices, utilizing spray patterns and fuel pressure to achieve efficient operation. Commercial gasoline also includes detergent additives that can help reduce deposit formation during operation. For a vehicle that is working normally on the correct fuel, scheduled professional injection cleaning is probably unnecessary.

Fuel Injector Cleaning Details:

• Professional cleaning packages cost approximately 150-300
• Modern injectors operate under substantial fuel pressure
• Gasoline detergents help control deposit accumulation
• Rough idling can indicate possible injector problems
• Cleaning should address identifiable performance symptoms

But dedicated injector cleaning is justified, when drivers experience rough idling, poor acceleration or engine misfire, which may be caused by deposits in the fuel system. Some other mechanical or electrical failure can cause similar symptoms so make sure a diagnosis pinpoints the root cause before any costly cleaning treatments are approved. With light deposit buildup, a quality fuel additive may be a cheaper and more efficient option. Vehicles that function well on good fuel may be able to skip the injector cleaning service entirely, unless the inspection detects otherwise.

5. High-Pressure Transmission Flushes

Many people are made to believe that a high-pressure transmission flush is a preventative service that will flush out the old fluid, sludge and debris. In the new transmission systems, there are filters and magnets placed internally that will trap the particles naturally during normal operation. Forcing the fluid with a machine through the transmission can stir up settled particles and then move those particles closer to vital hydraulic parts and valves. This debris can cause additional malfunctioning that did not exist prior to the flush and, therefore, a recommended transmission maintenance procedure should be followed.

Transmission Service Considerations:

• Internal filters capture many circulating transmission contaminants
• Magnets collect metallic particles during normal operation
• Forced flushing can disturb settled internal debris
• Some CVTs discourage conventional transmission flushing
• Manufacturer-approved drain-and-fill procedures protect gearbox operation

Gearboxes have different maintenance intervals. On some gearboxes, fluid makers have published longer intervals and on some they recommend even shorter change intervals in extreme driving conditions. CVTs are not all the same some recommend specific services and some are best flushed out with specific recommended fluids. When it comes to transmission fluid maintenance, a manufacturer-approved drain-and-fill is often a more affordable choice than a machine service that properly uses the right transmission fluid and a vehicle owner’s manual to save money on gearbox components.

6. Cooling System Flushes

Service flushing is often suggested at service visits regardless of how well a vehicle’s coolant appears. Today’s factory approved coolants are engineered to last a long time, with some automakers suggesting reservice at approximately 100,000 miles. This varies based on the vehicle, coolant spec and how hot you’re driving, but if the coolant’s clean and the vehicle’s temperature gauge stays normal, another flush likely isn’t necessary. Flushing coolant more often than it needs to be can be costly without making much of a difference.

Cooling System Maintenance Facts:

• Modern coolants provide extended service life
• Many replacement intervals approach 100,000 miles
• Coolant condition should be checked during inspections
• Frequent flushing may affect vulnerable seals
• Thermostats and radiators can cause overheating problems

A regular flushing of the cooling system when it is not really needed can lead to more issues. For instance, the aggressive cleaning action of a flush can cause damage to seals and gaskets within the system that may lead to leaks with a system otherwise in good working order. There are also other causes of overheating issues including damaged radiators, broken thermostats, and other issues that cause the coolant to be compromised in the first place. Keeping an eye on coolant levels and fluid color along with replacing coolant at regular intervals can help a person avoid the need for a flush to fix overheating issues.

7. Nitrogen Tire Fills

And finally, a dime a dozen Nitrogen for tires is often sold as a premium service that preserves tire pressure longer. Yes, high performance motorsports tire inflation and some specific uses can use nitrogen, but for the average new car tire everyday benefits are extremely limited. Regular old compressed air, used for filling car tires, already contains 78 percent nitrogen, so regular tires which already contain plenty of nitrogen are getting a lot of the gas for free. Whatever you pay for nitrogen inflation, it’s not going to be worth it.

Tire Inflation Facts:

• Standard compressed air contains approximately 78 percent nitrogen
• Nitrogen offers limited everyday commuting advantages
• Tires gradually lose pressure through natural gas seepage
• Green valve caps do not improve tire performance
• Monthly pressure checks help maintain proper inflation

The use of nitrogen does not counteract the ongoing leaks caused by tire materials in rubber tires. Whether you fill your tires with plain compressed air or nitrogen, periodic pressure monitoring and top offs are necessary. The “green” visual cue of decorative green valve caps allows you to purchase tires loaded with nitrogen and puts a label on it, but it does not add up to better performance levels. A conventional air compressor and an ordinary tire pressure gauge can stop you from paying inflated pressure charges while tracking pressures monthly can enhance driving safety, optimal performance, and fuel efficiency.

8. Power Steering Fluid Flushes

Power steering fluid flushes are also sometimes suggested during mileage services without first verifying if the car even has hydraulic steering. Due to advances in technology, a lot of newer model cars don’t use hydraulic power steering at all. If the vehicle has electric power steering, then it won’t have a power steering fluid to check or flush. Vehicles with hydraulic or electro-hydraulic steering systems will typically have systems designed to last a long time, and a power steering fluid flush should be done based on the vehicle’s needs.

Power Steering Service Facts:

• Many modern vehicles use electric power steering
• Electric systems do not require hydraulic steering fluid
• Hydraulic systems may retain fluid for extended periods
• Dark or burnt fluid can indicate potential problems
• Visible leaks require proper inspection and diagnosis

If a user has checked the service history and it shows that a power steering fluid flush has not been recently performed, the driver should have the mechanic inspect the system for visible signs of leaks, discoloration or dirt in the fluid, or if a burnt smell is present. Sticky and stiff steering and whining sounds often point to faulty or worn mechanical parts as well as slow developing leaks in the system. A fluid replacement that does not address the root cause will not fix the problem.