Servicing car at KM interval only, ignoring months?

[wayward]

Hi guys.

I'm supposed to do the car service ever 5,000 km or 6 months except every 6 months I do more like 2,000 km or 2,500 km.

It feels like a bit of a waste of cash when I'm not even half way to the km mark but just because the time has come around.

What are your guys opinions of just doing on km travelled and ignoring the months past?

[YoungBuck]

I'm guessing this is part of your warranty? Or how you keep fixed price servicing or something? Having your car scheduled for a service every 6 months is usually the way the dealer recovers costs from the 'fixed price servicing'. Every 6 months is way too often IMO. Engine oil is good for 12 months, coolant and other fluids is good up to 2 years.
So if you ask me, going by the KM instead of the time is preferred.

[AusTac]

That's pretty frequent even for Australian conditions, is it a petrol or diesel? Do you expect alot from it everyday? Towing? Frequently driving on a mountain pass, ' spirited driving; ?

If you answer is no and petrol to all of the above, and its not going to void some new/used car warranty you have a oil and filter yearly will be sufficient, other fluids can be changed when needed/recommended ( usually high kms )

If diesel id be checking the dipstick every 3/couple of months to see where the oil is, there will usually be a specific mark on the dipstick to where the oil can rise before it creates an issue, modern diesel oil is low ash and designed to trap and carry away soot and the amount in the sump will rise due to this

[FuzzyM]

As mentioned above if your car is under warranty you have to. If it's a diesel you have to. I don't know of any remotely modern petrols with a 5000k service interval. A lot these days are now 15000k. What car is it?

[Oldbloke]

Hi guys.

I'm supposed to do the car service ever 5,000 km or 6 months except every 6 months I do more like 2,000 km or 2,500 km.

It feels like a bit of a waste of cash when I'm not even half way to the km mark but just because the time has come around.

What are your guys opinions of just doing on km travelled and ignoring the months past?

Dealers love to over service cars. 5000km seems rediculous. Usually 10000km or 15,000 km.

[Title_II]

Newer cars are pretty resilient, as are the fluids and lubes. Either is fine, both are probably overkill.

[Spitpolisher]

I have watching this debate for a long time - n20 years ago it was all about 300,000 k for an engine - dealers are only interested in getting you through the warranty period - changing oil and filters (diesels) is a good investment if you want to hang onto the car - if you change your cars regularly I dont think it matters - Japanese car drivers have the same quandry - low K's and flicking cars regularly.

[Noisydad]

Read what some manufacturers regard as "extreme conditions". Basically if you start the engine in rural Aus it's "extreme conditions. Probably a conveniant way of dishonouring warranties.

[wayward]

Sorry guys, brain fart, it is 10,000km or 6 months. (Wifes car, forgot the details )

She's a Corolla........ Daily driver, low distance, petrol, obviously no towing or hard work.

The 6 months interval was needed to keep the warranty up but it's out of that now so I don't have to worry about it and wanted to know if I should stretch it to KM and ignore months.

10,000km or 1 year service from now on sounds good?

[AusTac]

10,000 kms or 1 year is pretty average for the customers at work ( jap car dealership ) should be fine

[Rocker]

Especially with a Corolla. They're not fancy but they're solid.

[FuzzyM]

Is it a lot of stop start short runs?
They can actually be worse, not letting the engine heat up properly etc.

[lole]

I don't know of any remotely modern petrols with a 5000k service interval. A lot these days are now 15000k. What car is it?

All Subarus are still 5,000km. Petrol and diesel.

IMO just squeezing a bit more out of you when they're new cause you have to do it to maintain your warranty.


EDIT: Oops got that wrong, some are 5,000km but not all. Correct information posted below by Vati.

[FuzzyM]

I don't know of any remotely modern petrols with a 5000k service interval. A lot these days are now 15000k. What car is it?

All Subarus are still 5,000km. Petrol and diesel.

IMO just squeezing a bit more out of you when they're new cause you have to do it to maintain your warranty.

That sucks! Considering how clever Subarus usually are, 5000k service intervals are ridiculous.

[Vati]

Not quite right lole, this is from the Subaru website here http://www.subaru.com.au/service/schedule

Liberty & Outback 6 - cylinder engine ONLY
3-Months or 5,000Kms

Forester, Impreza, Liberty, Outback, Tribeca, WRX & WRX STI, XV
6-Months or 12,500Kms

BRZ
9-Months or 15,000Kms

BUT! 3 month service interval for Liberty and Outback ?!?!!! WTF.

[on_one_wheel]

The primary reason for oil changes at 3 months is that some additives such a viscosity index improves are known to break down after time.
Companies that run big engines that hold thousands of litres of oil have their oil lab tested , cleaned and re-modified with a top up of additives to avoid the 3 monthly dump.

[Carter]

Why select an oil that requires 3 month changes in the first place then?

Why not go with one of the 6 - 12 months products instead?

[Herdsman]

Whatever they're selling the reason as 3 month service is ridiculous.