2003 Honda Maintenance

[GKinAK]

Hello Fellow Piloteers!


This is my first post to the forum, seems like a great place!


I have a 2003 Honda Pilot EX-L (Red Rock Metallic, if that matters) with 103K miles on it. Love, love, love my Pilot!


Besides the oil change every 3K miles (bought a lifetime oil change program with purchase) and brakes, I haven't done much in the way of maintenance. With previous vehicles, it was my understanding there are certain intervals of maintenance you do. I use to do annual tune up on them (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, etc.), but when I spoke to a local mechanic about doing one on the Pilot, he said newer vehicles weren't really engineered for annual tune ups



Being that my Pilot is over 100K and I plan on driving it into the ground, I would like to take proper care of it. What do you all do? Do all of those old tune up tricks apply or was the mechanic right?


Also, I have notice in the last year a decrease in my gas mileage (the Pilot's only down fall, IMO). I use to get 17-18 in town and now seem more of an average of 14-16. Highway was 24 or so, now down to 22-23. While slight, it does make a difference. My driving habits haven't really changed, if anything, they are better as my Pilot is now garaged and not started up on cold Alaskan mornings anymore.


Thanks in advance!
Gretchen

[cofetym]

Did you purchase your Pilot new ? If not, this link will come in handy:2003 Honda Pilot Owner's Manual

Major service is due at 105,000 timing belt, plugs etc. If you enjoy DIY stuff there are excellent writeups in the maintenance part of the forum.

Relax get a cup of coffee and peruse the site, you'll learn more about your Pilot than you need to know.

[rocky]

You can also access information on your Pilot and service needs on Honda's ownerslink.

I don't know how long you have had your Pilot, but its possible that winter fuel is causing your mpg drop.