When Does Your GMC Acadia Need Maintenance?

We think properly maintaining and getting service for a vehicle is fun and exciting—and we know not everyone shares this feeling, but that’s okay. Sure, driving around on the weekend, getting together with friends, and taking your family on a road trip together is arguably more fun, but that doesn’t change the fact that things like oil changes, tire rotations, and alignment adjustments can be enjoyable, too.

Of course, if you’re not someone who gets satisfaction from doing that kind of work, then you’re probably looking for a GMC service center in Cincinnati for your Acadia. You’ve come to the right place because our service experts and technicians are ready to help with everything your vehicle needs when it needs it. But when, exactly, does your Acadia need routine service and maintenance? Let’s take a look at GMC’s recommended maintenance schedule and find out.

A Note on Vehicle Use and Service Needs

Before we dig into the specifics of the service schedule for the GMC Acadia, we should first briefly mention an important consideration: vehicle usage. How you use your vehicle directly affects how much wear and tear is put on it, and you need to adjust some of these service considerations based on how you use your Acadia. Normal usage, as defined by GMC, means driving on reasonable road surfaces in Cincinnati within speed limits, using the proper fuel, and carrying passengers and cargo that are within the recommended limit for the Acadia and its tires. Driving this way means the basic maintenance schedule will work for you.

We’ll see that additional services are recommended based on “Severe” use, which has a particular meaning from GMC. Severe use includes driving in heavy city traffic in hot weather, driving primarily in hilly or mountainous terrain, or frequently towing a trailer; as a reminder, the 2024 GMC Acadia, when properly equipped, has 5,000 lbs of towing capacity. Also, using your Acadia for high-speed or competitive driving or using it as part of a taxi or delivery service (which includes ridesharing services) is considered Severe usage. So, if you use your vehicle as part of a side gig, then you’ll want to take a bit more care of it.

Maintenance Schedule: Every 7,500 Miles

To keep things simple, we’re looking at the service schedule for the 2024 GMC Acadia; be sure to look at the owner’s manual for your particular model to make sure this maintenance interval is correct for your vehicle. The first schedule point to note is at 7,500 miles; each time this rolls around, you should check the engine oil level and oil life percentage to see if it’s time for a replacement.

If needed, then the engine oil and filter should be replaced; if the “CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON” message is displayed when you’re driving around Cincinnati, then you should have the oil and filter changed within the next 600 miles. If you do not drive 7,500 miles in a year and this message is not displayed, then you should still change the oil and filter once a year, regardless of other factors, to keep your vehicle in good shape.

At every 7,500 miles, you should also rotate your tires (or let us do it) to ensure even wearing on them and to help them last as long as possible. During this visit, we will also perform a Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection (MPVI) to make sure everything looks good. In general, this inspection makes sure nothing is wearing out and in need of replacement, letting us catch problems before they happen. It includes:

• Diagnostics for service history/recalls
• Checking engine oil
• Visual inspection of exterior lights and windows
• Checking your battery
• Inspecting other fluids for leaks (transmission, cooling, etcetera)
• Tire and brake inspection
• Checking condition of seat belts, filters, belts, hoses, and other components
• Lubricating chassis components

During this service visit, we can also replace your engine air filter if the “REPLACE AT NEXT OIL CHANGE” message is displayed in your vehicle to indicate it is time. If you see a “REPLACE ENGINE AIR FILTER SOON” message, then the air filter should be replaced as soon as you get the chance.

Maintenance Schedule: Every 22,500 Miles

Assuming all else is good and no other problems come up, then every three times you handle basic service (every 22,500 miles), you should have your cabin air filter replaced. If you don’t tend to drive a lot of long distances, then you might not hit this milestone within two years; in that case, your passenger compartment air filter should be replaced every 24 months. You might need to replace this air filter more often if you drive in a lot of heavy traffic in Cincinnati or on dirt roads frequently, where you’re getting more dust that needs to be filtered out.

Maintenance Schedule: Every 60,000 Miles

You’ll also need to replace the spark plugs on your Acadia’s engine every 60,000 miles, alongside the basic service handled every 7,500 miles. We will also inspect the spark plug wires and similar components at this time to make sure everything looks good. If you notice issues with your engine idling a bit rough or feeling off, then we might need to replace your spark plugs sooner—but otherwise, they should last about 60,000 miles.

Maintenance Schedule: Every 100,000 Miles

Your Acadia has gas struts under the hood and in the liftgate that help to hold them open when you’re checking your engine or loading/unloading the rear of your vehicle. These support gas struts should be replaced every 100,000 miles or every ten years, whichever comes first, to ensure they keep working well and don’t fail when you have the hood or liftgate open. This is the only extra sort of service you need to worry about at this milestone.

Maintenance Schedule: Every 150,000 Miles

GMC is well known for making high-quality vehicles, so it is not rare for an Acadia to reach 150,000 miles or more, particularly if you follow this maintenance schedule. At this impressive point, you should have the rear axle fluid changed if you have a model equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). In addition to this, you should drain and fill the engine cooling system if you have not done so already; this should be done every six years if you have not reached 150,000 miles yet. This is, of course, in addition to the standard service, including checking the engine oil, rotating your tires, and an MPVI.

Additional Services for Severe Usage

If you use your vehicle in a manner that GMC considers Severe rather than Normal usage, then you should consider a few extra things. For starters, the indicator that you need an oil change may come on well before 7,500 miles with increased usage. In addition to this, you should change your transmission fluid every 45,000 miles and change the rear axle fluid in an AWD model every 75,000 miles rather than every 150,000 miles. It’s also a good idea to get your tires checked and your vehicle inspected more often, though GMC doesn’t require it.

Service and Support for Cincinnati Drivers

As you can see, once you take a good look at it, keeping track of the maintenance schedule for the GMC Acadia is not that difficult. The intervals are well spaced out, so it’s not something you need to worry about every other day; plus, proper service helps you get ahead of bigger problems in the future and can save you a lot of money. Many of these things are simple enough that you can handle them in your driveway, though we know plenty of people who prefer the peace of mind that comes from knowing your vehicle is in the best hands possible.

Here at McCluskey Buick GMC, we make it easy and convenient. We work around your schedule so you can leave your vehicle with us and take care of other stuff while we service your ride. If you’re still not sure how to best maintain your GMC Acadia or any other model, contact us today, and we’ll help you with everything you need.