Which Jeep Wrangler Maintenance Schedule to Choose? Upon the purchase of a new Jeep Wrangler, and hopefully at invoice price, any conscientious owner would look into the maintenance schedule.
Upon doing so, that conscientiousness would quickly change to confusion. The new Jeep Wrangler owner would find that the manual that comes with the Jeep has one maintenance schedule, the dealership at which they purchased the Jeep has a different one, and then to just add a little more uncertainty, the dealership near their workplace could possibly even have another one. Which Jeep Wrangler maintenance schedule to choose? Read below and hopefully you can be confident in making your decision.
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Classification of Use
These different recommendations can be supported by arguing that different Jeep owners use their Jeeps with different intensities and in different ways. Another source of difference is the owner’s intentions. Is the Jeep Wrangler owner one who intends to keep the Jeep a long time, or just leasing it through their workplace? Furthermore, other factors to consider would be the type of engine and transmission one orders in their Jeep.
Picking the appropriate maintenance schedule therefore should be matched with the engine, transmission and type of use you have for your Jeep. For our purposes today, my opinion on a maintenance schedule is based on someone who uses their Jeep, with the Automatic Transmission, and has the 3.6L Pentastar engine. Further, the use of the Jeep will be characterized as a Daily Driver with moderate recreational use, such as city and highway driving and the odd forestry road or trail, where 4WD is occasionally engaged off road and in snow conditions.
If you are doing intense rock crawling, and water fording or river crossings, you will need to look for tips beyond what’s covered in this video.
The 8,000km(5,000mile) 6 month Jeep Wrangler Maintenance Schedule
In my opinion, the maintenance schedule I find the most practical for the Jeep Wrangler, with the Daily Driver type of use described in the paragraph above, is the one noted from the dealer at which I purchased my Jeep. This is the link to the dealer’s website maintenance schedule, but I will provide a brief verbal summary, followed by a detailed table below so you can determine which Jeep Wrangler maintenance schedule to choose.
Summary of the 8,000 km Interval of the Maintenance Schedule
Essentially, the schedule highlights that oil changes(OC), tire rotations(TR) and brake inspections(BI) should occur at every 8,000km, or 6 months. The dealership will charge in the order of $167 + tax for this 8,000km interval service, but it is certainly an area that is open for a DIY money saving opportunity. An actual dollar savings brake-down that shows you can save more than $125 per service interval is shared in the Tips feature in this video.
I include brake inspections in this interval. It may seem excessive, but given that brake wear is based on so many different environmental and human conditions, it makes sense to be inspecting them whenever you have the tires off for the rotation part of the service.
These items in the 8,000 km service interval will help your engine, tires and brakes function properly, last longer, make your Jeep safer, and save you money, by avoiding unnecessary repairs. If you did them yourself, you could even save more money
Weather it’s for DIY Oil Changes, Tire Rotations or Brake Inspections, there will be CheaperJeeper TV DIY Videos with Amateur Tips released next, so make sure to subscribe so as not miss out.
Summary of the 32,000 km Interval of the Maintenance Schedule
As you are moving along every 8,000km in your Jeep Wrangler maintenance schedule, you will come upon an item that occurs every 32,000km, and that is to simply check and possibly replace the cabin air filter. You simply open the glove box, squeeze the sides of the glove box to release it, squeeze a small tab to release the door on the housing of the cabin air filter, then reach in to pull out the cabin air filter to inspect it. At the 32,000km interval of this maintenance schedule, the dealer would charge for this, but as you can see, it is very easy to do yourself.
48 k Maintenance Schedule for Jeep WranglerKeeping a clean cabin air filter will remove dust and particles from the air blowing in your Jeep’s cabin, and ensure less strain on the operation of your cabin heating and cooling system.
Summary of the 48,000 km Interval of the Maintenance Schedule
You would continue to do your 8,000km interval services, but at every 48,000 km, the oil in the transfer case and differentials should be changed. You will receive various suggestions on the rough interval for this service, but for the use described above, I wouldn’t leave this service for very much longer than every 48,000 to 50,000 km. You should take care about this service, as special oil and possible additives are to be used, but the actual task is fairly simple to do. Weather you’re replacing the oil in the transfer case or differentials, you simply remove the fill bolt, then the drain bolt to allow the oil to drain out. Then re secure the drain bolt, fill the transfer case or differential with the appropriate oil, until it starts to come out of the fill hole. That’s how you know it’s full. Put the fill plug or bolt back in, and you have done it.
I’ve saved a couple hundred bucks in labour doing this relatively easy task myself.
Keeping fresh oil in contact with the gears in the transfer case and differentials will help your Jeep’s drive train run properly and last longer.
If you’re interested in saving a couple hundred dollars doing this yourself, a DIY video with amatuer tips will also be released soon.
Summary of the 96,000 km Interval of the Maintenance Schedule
While still moving along in your maintenance schedule, every 8,000km, you will come upon an item that occurs every 96,000km, and that is to simply check and possibly replace the engine air filter, if required. You simply remove four screws, lift out the filter to inspect, then replace it if necessary. Depending on the road conditions that you drive, I would consider just checking this more regularly, especially since you’re under the hood for the other service items we’ve been discussing.
Ensuring your engines intake air filter is clean will help ensure proper function of your engine and gas allow you to have the best fuel economy possible.
Summary of the 160,000 km Interval of the Maintenance Schedule
Well into your service intervals, you will come upon an item that occurs every 160,000km, and that is to replace the spark plugs and PCV. I have up to this point performed all maintenance items myself, put will elect to have the dealer perform the spark plug change when necessary. This job, although DIY possible, involves removal of hoses and fuel rails. The risks of an error are too high, and this job is best left to one more mechanically included or a professional mechanic.
Conclusion
Therefore, over the life of ownership of your Jeep Wrangler, you can save thousands of dollars by doing many DIY maintenance items yourself. Not only will this provide savings in labour costs, but it will also provide savings by the prevention of costly breakdowns due to lack of maintenance. In the end, you will have saved yourself a lot of money, and you will have earned the satisfaction that you get when looking after your own Jeep.