The old, old saying “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” does not apply to servicing your car. Yes, I am fully aware that the vehicle is running just fine, and why should you interfere with a perfectly good car.
It’s called preventative maintenance. Before anything does go seriously wrong, and the cost is twice what it would have cost you had you just followed the maintenance schedule, service the car regularly.
One of our very suspicious readers wrote to us about the service intervals on his vehicle. His claim that, when manufacturers specify 10 000km or six months or whichever comes first, they are merely in it for their profit margins. However much I would like to agree with you, sir, your claim is unfortunately false.
OIL FACTS
The reasons for the six-month interval if your vehicle isn’t driven the stated distance required before a scheduled service, are the following:
1 Oil degradation in vehicles that do not cover a lot of distance is worse than vehicles that are used regularly over long distances. Longer trips allow moisture build up, acid formation and unburnt fuels to evaporate from the oil.
2 If they are used regularly but only for short trips, the wear and tear is actually greater because the vehicle does not reach its normal operating temperature.
3 When the above happens, all the condensation that takes place in the engine ends up in the oil with all the other by- products of an internal combustion engine.
4 The oil gets contaminated and if the vehicle is not driven for any length of time or distance, these contaminants degrade the oil quicker.
5 When dealers ask for the vehicle to be serviced every six months, it’s to ensure that you do not lose your warranty and service/maintenance plans.
6 Fresh, clean oil in the engine not only lubricates the moving parts, but also plays a very important part in cooling the engine as well. The advantages of a good oil in the engine cannot be stressed enough.
7. When a car stands for long periods, the wear on the tyres and all other rubber components is also severe. Oil seals get hard and the tyres have an expiration date.
8. The oil in your vehicle operates at its best when it reaches its optimum temperature.
CARS THAT THINK FOR THEMSELVES
On some modern cars, the ECUs use an algorithm to determine the required oil change interval based on a number of factors such as duration of use, ambient temperatures speed and acceleration. Owners that drive slower and /or for longer will have longer oil-change intervals than owners who drive faster and/or on shorter runs without full warm-up. Some executive cars are fitted with oil condition sensors that measure the true state of the oil rather than hazarding a guess.
However, on older cars the six-month or 10 000km rule should still apply. So the dealers are not trying to rip you off.
Tip for winter: Use your aircon at least twice a week. This ensures that oil is allowed to flow in the system and lubricate the seals, so when summer comes around you don’t have to regas the aircon and replace seals. - Star Motoring
Sagie Moodley presents a radio motoring show with Adam Ford on Mix FM (93.8) from 7-9pm every Wednesday.