The severe-duty maintenance schedule.
Short trips, towing, dust, mountains, and extreme temperatures are hard on a car. This page starts at 60,000 miles with severe-duty intervals so you can see what moves forward.
Build a severe-duty plan
The driving profile is preset to severe duty. Change it to compare with a normal schedule.
Your next 12 months
A dated work order, not a wall of advice. Check things off as you go; the log stays in this browser.
No plan yet Awaiting mileage
Enter your current odometer and annual miles. We will turn the general intervals into dates and mileage points for the next year.
Service plan / next 12 months
Work order
On the radar
Monthly habits
What severe duty changes.
“Severe” does not mean abuse. It means the car works harder than the default schedule assumes: short cold starts, idling, heat, dust, grades, or a trailer. Oil and filters take the first hit; brakes, transmission fluid, and cooling systems follow.
Common severe-duty triggers
- Most trips under five miles, especially in cold weather.
- Stop-and-go traffic or long periods of idling.
- Towing, hauling, or a loaded roof rack.
- Dusty roads, gravel, construction sites, or coastal salt.
- Mountain grades or sustained high temperatures.
Compare the severe plan with the normal one and ask whether the shorter interval buys real protection for how you actually drive. If you are unsure, the owner’s manual’s severe-duty table is the place to start.
Good questions.
Short answers. The owner’s manual still wins.
What counts as severe driving?
Short trips under about 5 miles, stop-and-go traffic, idling, towing, hauling, roof loads, dusty roads, mountain grades, and extreme heat or cold are the usual severe-duty conditions. The owner’s manual defines it for your vehicle.
How much shorter are severe-duty intervals?
It varies by item. Oil often drops from 7,500 to 5,000 miles and from 12 to 6 months; filters and some fluids also shorten. The planner uses shorter intervals for the whole severe-duty schedule.
Do I need severe-duty service if I only drive in the city?
Possibly. Short trips and stop-and-go driving are hard on oil and brakes even if the car never tows. If most trips are under 5 miles, treat it as severe or ask a mechanic who knows your manual.
Does severe duty affect an EV?
Yes, but differently. Tires, brakes, cabin filters, suspension, and coolant still matter; towing and extreme temperatures add load. The planner uses the severe-duty intervals for the relevant items.