Unpopular opinion: 100k mile tune-ups are a scam on modern cars

I hit 100,000 miles on my 2015 F-150 last week and the dealer wanted $1,200 for their "major tune-up package." Spark plugs, belt, fluid flushes, the whole deal. I told them no and just did the oil and checked the belts myself. Everything looked fine. My buddy says he follows the book no matter what. Another mechanic at the shop says most of that stuff is outdated for modern engines. Who's right? Do you actually do full tune-ups at 100k or just fix what breaks?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayes.elliot7h ago

Dealers just want the cash. Plain and simple. Spark plugs on those F-150s are good for way past 100k. Plenty of folks run 150k plus on the original set with no issues. Belts too. If it looks fine and isn't cracked, leave it alone. Fluid flushes are mostly profit for them anyway. Just keep up with regular oil changes and fix stuff when it actually breaks. Modern engines don't need that old school tune-up stuff.

green.jessica7h ago

Is it just me or does this same mindset apply to pretty much everything these days? I've noticed it with lawnmowers, washing machines, even my kid's toy car. Everyone wants to sell you maintenance packages and replacement plans before anything actually goes wrong. @hayes.elliot is totally right about dealers pushing this stuff hard. I talked to a mechanic buddy who said the real trick is just knowing your vehicle and checking things yourself when you can. Most people end up paying for a bunch of stuff they never needed just because the manual says to do it. It feels like we've all been trained to fix things before they're broken and it just lines someone else's pocket.