Common upsells — which are real vs not

Most modern coolant lasts 100k miles. Check your owner's manual interval before agreeing.

Expensive bottled chemistry. Manufacturers don't require any of it. Keep your money.

Marked up 4-5x at the shop, but this isn't something you'll need often. If you do it yourself, be careful not to touch or bump the mass airflow (MAF) sensor near the intake, if your car has one — it's sensitive and can cause issues if damaged. Not confident locating it? This one's fine to leave to a shop.

Legitimate every 15–25k miles. But DIY it for ~$12 instead of $60 at the shop — it's behind the glove box.

Legitimate every 2–3 years. Confirm last service date before agreeing — don't pay for something that was just done.

Pads below 3 mm need replacing. This is real safety work — get it done.

If your engine uses a belt and you're at the manufacturer's interval (60–100k miles), replace it. Failure can destroy the engine.

If a load test shows weakness, replace it before you're stranded. 3–5 years is typical lifespan.