What Services Do You Need for a Vehicle That Hits 100,000 Miles?

Maintaining your Chevy as it gets up there in mileage introduces a new set of challenges and considerations when you’re looking to keep it running and keep it working as intended. Usually, when you cross the 50,000-mile mark, you have to take a few more precautions with how you drive it—and by the 75,000-mile mark, you’re likely already replacing some components and needing to pamper the vehicle a little bit more than usual. By the 100,000-mile mark, there are a whole new set of expectations to consider for your vehicle, and you can’t always rely on off-the-shelf parts or just any kind of mechanic to look at your vehicle. At some point, you might be thinking, “What Chevy service near me can ensure my vehicle still runs after 100,000 miles?”

At McCluskey Chevrolet, we not only love to service vehicles after that 100,000-mile mark, but we also provide you with useful tips you should consider—such as in articles like this—that can help key you into a few things to look out for after you hit that milestone. Let’s review a few of the services you’ll need to consider when your vehicle hits 100,000 miles, what you should look out for when servicing your vehicle, and how to keep it running well. And, as always, if you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out and contact us, as we’re always ready and willing to help.

More Than Just an Oil Change…

Every several thousand miles—or every so many months—it’s important to get the oil checked and changed on your vehicle; the optimal period depends on what’s suggested in your model’s manual. Every so many thousand miles, you also may get the vehicle’s alignment checked and tweaked or have the tires rotated. Replacing the filters and the spark plugs is also standard fare.

At 100,000 miles, you will still need to tend to the oil, oil filter, air filters, and alignment, but you will also need to consider a lot more than that. You might also need to have the engine and transmission thoroughly inspected to ensure that your oil is still lubricating the mechanical parts and that your vehicle isn’t knocking or causing unnecessary vibrations due to loose components or frame issues. At 100,000 miles, it’s no longer just about simple oil changes and spark plugs but about checking all the places the oil goes to, how well each component is doing its job, and whether the rest of the components are behaving as intended.

The Proper Fluid Checklist

One of the more simple yet essential aspects that will need to be checked on your vehicle regularly at the 100,000-mile mark is the fluids. This includes brake fluid, coolant, engine oil, and transmission fluid. These fluids are essential for keeping the vehicle running optimally; coolant for keeping your vehicle from overheating, oil for keeping the mechanical components lubricated and safe from chipping, and brake fluid so that your brakes are responsive and don’t lock up. Transmission fluid is also essential, especially at the 100,000-mile mark, where frequent gear changes with that much wear on it can definitely make for an easy target for failure—so having the transmission oil refreshed and the transmission inspected are top priorities when you’ve got 100,000 miles on your vehicle.

An Operational Timing Belt

This is one of the most critical components of your vehicle, and it can make or break the longevity of your ride depending on if it’s properly serviced or not. Timing belts keep the timing of engine components in their proper pattern to avoid misfirings and malfunctions. A worn out or broken timing belt can cause catastrophic problems if it’s too worn down or cracked, which is why—at the 100,000-mile mark—it may be necessary to not only have the timing belt inspected but possibly replaced with an OEM part. Some Chevy vehicles—typically of the heavy-duty variety—may have a timing chain instead, in which case the wear is much less pronounced than a timing belt. Even still, after 100,000 miles, it’s important to have it inspected for wear that may affect its performance, as it may need to be replaced at that point.

The Essential Water Pump

Water pumps are known to last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, so when they end up wearing out, you’re potentially going to see some serious issues with the engine overheating or the coolant leaking. In the same way that it’s important to keep your coolant fresh to dissipate heat from the engine components, you also need a reliable water pump to keep the coolant moving from the radiator through the engine bay. Some water pumps may last longer than others, but the water pump’s motor may eventually give out and will require replacement or service. A good water pump—like many car components—can help ensure that your vehicle lasts much longer on the road because it can help preserve other vital components that keep it operational.

Brake Pads & Rotors

If you’re looking for a fully-featured Chevy servicing, then you’re looking for a place that also handles brake pads and rotor replacements. At McCluskey, we cover both. Brake pads go inside calipers, and the brake fluid in the brake line causes the calipers to clamp down on the rotors and bring the vehicle to a stop. Not all brake pads are the same, and not all vehicles need the same quality brake pads, but at the 100,000-mile mark, you are more than likely going to need to replace your brake pads and rotors. Over time rotors can wear down, crack, or become less responsive due to rust or corrosion. Proper replacements on a vehicle with mileage over the 100,000-mile mark are typically essential if you want to keep the vehicle’s braking power operational and reliable.

Maintaining a Reliable Exhaust

The exhaust manifold is where gasses from the engine travel through so that they can exit out of the exhaust pipe. Over time, the exhaust manifold and pipe can wear down and become less effective. The pipes and manifold can sometimes crack by the time you hit the 100,000-mile mark, so it’s important that when you have your Chevy serviced, you have the exhaust manifold and the exhaust pipe(s) checked for cracks, wear, or any rust. Depending on the make and model, you may need to replace or have the exhaust repaired; a worn-out exhaust manifold can severely affect a vehicle’s performance, while a faulty exhaust pipe can create unsettling noise and performance problems for some drivers.

Prioritize Your Hoses

The hoses in your vehicle may need to be replaced at the 100,000-mile mark, and you may need to have your fuel line serviced. These are essential for ensuring that your vehicle operates as intended because if the hose is clogged, cracked, or leaking, you could end up losing lots of fuel during travel, which is extremely dangerous, or it can cause the fuel to get blocked and not get to the engine, which can cause stalls or other mechanical failures, which can then cause even more severe problems. There is a list of failures that can come from damaged or worn-out hoses, so they should be prioritized for service at 100,000 miles. It’s important that your hoses are properly serviced and connected and that there are no severe cracks, breaks, or tears.

Suspension & Steering Alignment

Your vehicle may be fine and dandy, in mechanical terms, but the suspension could still be in dire need of service. With 100,000 miles on a vehicle, your suspension components could be severely worn or damaged; it depends on the make and model. For instance, trucks and off-road models incur far more punishment than sedans or SUVs used as daily drivers. So at 100,000 miles, if you only do basic point-A to point-B driving, your suspension may not be too bad; having the undercarriage serviced with the tie-rods inspected, control arms inspected, and shocks inspected are essential. But for off-road vehicles or trucks used for a lot of hauling and towing, you may need to ensure that the differentials are inspected at the 100,000-mile mark, along with the axles, dampers, and especially the steering alignment. In fact, any vehicle with 100,000 miles on it will definitely need to have its alignment checked.

A Fresh Set of Tires

It might not seem as important as some other items, but a good set of tires are going to be essential for a vehicle with more than 100,000 miles on it because tires affect handling performance and fuel economy. A proper set of tires can even help increase the longevity of your Chevy, so this is something to consider as well. Like everything else mentioned in the article, you can actually find a great set of tires at McCluskey Chevrolet, as we have a dedicated selection of tires for a variety of Chevy models. Check out our service options, discounts, and deals so you can make the most of your vehicle, even after it hits the 100,000-mile mark.