2005 Pilot 45k mi - recommended maint?

[jtfannin]

Hi, new to the forum here and was wondering if I could gather some opinions, info, or a little of both...

My wife has a 2005 Pilot (not sure of the exact model, but has the VTM-4 and I think the larger of 2 engines offered) with about 45k miles on it now. She puts about 20k mi/year on the Honda. To date, the only maintenance I've had done are oil changes every 3k-5k miles.

We've had no issues whatsoever out of the drivetrain, and recently had the zillion point inspection done at the delaership (at about 37k miles). All they recommened was the 30k mile service (not sure what this would've involved - my wife took it and declined the service).

So my question - to keep this Pilot running until my kids graduate (long time)...should I be having some certain service(s) done, such as tranny, VTM-4, coolant, etc. changes??? Anything else???

Thanks much, Jason

[whizmo]

It's all covered in the useful little book in the glove box called the Owner's Manual. Do what it says, not what the dealer says.

- Mark

[jtfannin]

Thanks!

With other vehicles I've been somewhat skeptical on what the manual calls for as well, especially when it comes to some of the more extravagant work...I also tend not to buy all the dealer's cleaners, etc. that I am supopsed to use according to the manual, so the manual loses some credibility with me on that end of the spectrum... From what my wife had told me, it sounded like the dealer was quoting from the manuals' requirements when they made their sales pitch for their 30k miles service.

Will check the manual when I get home.

[whizmo]

I think the dealer recommendations are often "extravagent", but the OM is pretty much right-on. It wants you to do 5K-7.5K oil changes, VTM4 every 30K or so, coolant and brake flud changes every couple years, plugs and a timing belt every 90K or so, and all the various inspections and the like. I don't think this is excessive at all.

- Mark

[jtfannin]

Thanks Mark, appreciate the info!

Jason

[sjlee]

Maintenance is done on our Pilot every 7500 miles. Every 15k miles, we take it into the dealer to have the Honda recommended service done.

[ejthomp]

Originally posted by sjlee
Maintenance is done on our Pilot every 7500 miles. Every 15k miles, we take it into the dealer to have the Honda recommended service done.

Wow! I'd be curious to see what your total cost of ownership is when letting the dealer do all of this work. Do you keep all of the receipts?

[sjlee]

Originally posted by ejthomp


Wow! I'd be curious to see what your total cost of ownership is when letting the dealer do all of this work. Do you keep all of the receipts?

Yes, I do keep all of my receipts. If you like, I can look up what I paid for the 15k and 30k mi maintenance.

I have done the same with my 11-year-old Integra, which has almost 165k miles. It doesn't burn any oil, gets great gas mileage and runs great. If I get the same results with the Pilot, it would all be worth it to me.

By the way, the dealer only does "all the work" every 15k miles. I do every other oil change. The dealer will only knock off $6 if I have them skip the oil change, which to me isn't worth me doing it.