Car Servicing frequency?

[Kiwi cop]

I recently read that car services in the U.S. are recommended at 3,000 mile (5,000 km) intervals.

Here in Kiwiland servicing is recommended (mandatory for warranty purposes) every 10,000 km (6,000 miles). My patrol car (a now former local GM branded Chevy Equinox) get’s the service due alert just before every 15,000 km (9,000 miles).

I recall that the rental car we used in 2018 (a brand new Hyundai Elantra) got no “service due” notification in almost 7,500 miles, while last years Honda HRV got the warning just before 15,000 miles was reached.

So how often do you service your cars?

I would also not be surprised to learn that most of those here do their own oil and filter changes.

 

[abigails&w]

That's used to be in past and mainly for mineral engine oil. The upside was that those 3K oil changes were often a breeze, fast and cheap, some were even drive-through style (pull in a bay and stay in the car while your oil is changed, fluids topped off, etc). Some people changed their oil and maintained their cars themselves at home, some still do.

For my current family cars (ICE, not EV) scheduled maintenance reminder is set to every 10,000 miles or 1 year, what comes first.

 

[DWalt]

I have never done much car maintenance without it being a necessity. About all I do is change the oil and filter every 7K-8K miles and occasionally check all of the fluids and fill if needed. I change the air filter maybe every 25-30K miles or when I think of it. For a long time I changed the oil and oil filter myself, but now I usually take it to the 5 minute oil change place near my house.

 

[JohnRippert]

I put less than 3000 miles a year on mine so I just get the oil changed, with synthetic for the turbo, once a year before it gets inspected in preparation for registration here in Texas. If a normal maintenance item comes up in that time period it gets taken care of while it is being inspected at the dealer.

 

[chief38]

I have used Amsoil oil and filters since 2002. I change my oil every September and I usually only rack up 7- 8,000 miles. The oil is guaranteed fir 25,000 and the filter for 15,000 but I never reach that.

If using regular non synthetic I would change it every 3-4K. If using a regular synthetic, every 6-7,000. After using many Amsoil products for 21 years, I believe in them and trust them.

 

[madmikeb]

I spent 10 years as a mechanic right out of high school and I do all my own service work and repairs. My cars get serviced every 2000 miles whether its conventional oil or synthetic. For the $30 bucks it costs me to do a service its cheap insurance.

They also get checked under the hood every time I fill up!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I worked part-time at a large limo company, the cars there were serviced at 2500 miles.

 

[s&wchad]

I have the oil/filter changed and the tires rotated every 6-7K miles on my 2018 F-150 V8. The manufacturer recommends doing it every 10K miles. It holds 8.8 quarts of 5W-20 synthetic blend and "The Works" oil change costs me about $60.

The truck only has 36K miles on it and everything currently works fine. I've had the the rear brakes replaced and some recall service done, but it only receives additional maintenance as required. I change my own wiper blades and air filters. The dealership puts a sticker on advising to have the next service done in 3,000 miles after each oil change, but I promptly peel it off and throw it in the trash.

If I wanted to hemorrhage money, I could find a much more enjoyable way to do it!

 

[LVSteve]

I worked part-time at a large limo company, the cars there were serviced at 2500 miles.

How long ago? I will admit that limo work involves a lot of city driving and idling, but every 2500 miles seems nuts to me. Depending on the city perhaps your employer was obliged to do that at a certain lube shop for the health of his kneecaps.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I change my oil (synthetic), oil filter, and engine air filter every 5K miles and my cabin air filter every 10K miles. Both our main cars are SUVs, and we do some towing and deal with lots of hilly terrain and miles of dirt roads every day.

 

[chief38]

I spent 10 years as a mechanic right out of high school and I do all my own service work and repairs. My cars get serviced every 2000 miles whether its conventional oil or synthetic. For the $30 bucks it costs me to do a service its cheap insurance.

They also get checked under the hood every time I fill up!

Oil has come a long long way over the last decade. While most of the commercial filters are nothing special, Amsoil, Royal Purple and Mobil 1 Extended are way way above all the rest. Yes, the Amsoil and filters listed above cost more, however they are not even in the same class as the basic commercial auto store products. I do my own auto and mc maintenance as well and have researched the hell out of this subject. I have no horse in this race, it’s just sort of a hobby/obsession-lol

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Before “Jiffy Lube” and other drive thru oil change stores showed up the US car manufacturers were recommending 7500 miles. jiffy Lube and others started promoting the 3000 mile oil change and the general public fell for it.

Today, Ford recommends 7500 with synthetic blend oil. I have been using Mobile Oil full synthetic oil and changing the oil once a year or every 10000 miles.

My 2020 Ford pickup truck and other new vehicles have percentages of oil life left readings, but they are only based on mileage and driving conditions conditions recorded on the vehicle CPU, and not a real sample of the actual oil.

During the truck’s factory warranty period I get oil changes at dealerships to document in case of engine issues. After warranty expires I will go back to Moble One and 10k mile oil changes.

 

[GypsmJim]

Both my regular cars have oil life monitors. I change the oil when it shows about 15% left - that's about every 9,000 miles.

My old classic 1980 gets driven about 100 miles a year. I change the oil every 3 years, whether it needs it or not.

 

[Rustyt1953]

We have a 2019 Honda HR-V Sport with a DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head with port fuel injection.

Our 15% light goes off around 6-7K miles.

 

[madmikeb]

Oil has come a long long way over the last decade. While most of the commercial filters are nothing special, Amsoil, Royal Purple and Mobil 1 Extended are way way above all the rest. Yes, the Amsoil and filters listed above cost more, however they are not even in the same class as the basic commercial auto store products. I do my own auto and mc maintenance as well and have researched the hell out of this subject. I have no horse in this race, it’s just sort of a hobby/obsession-lol

I use nothing but oem filters, 34 years as a parts manager taught me that oem parts are the only way to go.

Newer oils may not break down like they used to but they do get contaminated.

 

[S42N8]

10K or annual. A bit pricey, but after the RS5, the Q5 seems downright reasonable.

 

[mtgianni]

Mine depends on time on dirt or gravel roads, time idling or less than 30 mph and road time of over 75 mph. Currently my 2022 Chev Traverse shows a detail that says my average speed is 49 mph. With warm up and town miles, this rig gets a lot of road time at 80 mph.

I get things serviced at 5000 straight up for the car my wife and grand-daughter share. My truck gets an oil change every 6 months or 4500 miles whichever comes first. Traverse gets serviced every 6000. I have the same shop service it as sells me tires so I try to combine a rotation and service.

 

[DWalt]

I have never rotated my tires. Nothing seems to have suffered by my not doing that.

 

[ralph7]

I have never rotated my tires. Nothing seems to have suffered by my not doing that.

I couldn't if I wanted to, staggered sizes from the factory.
2019 Mustang Bullitt

 

[STCM(SW)]

The three that need synthetic Oil & filter, every 6 months.(Mobil 1)
Old F150, every 3K regular oil.