How Often Should You Get Your Car Serviced?

The Importance of Car Servicing

If you bring your car into the shop for an oil change every few months, you’ll save a ton of money compared to replacing the entire engine. For example, in North America, an oil change costs between $46 and $70 on average, while a full engine replacement costs $2,700 to $5,000.

If you often miss these oil changes that are both affordable and necessary for your vehicle, you’ll likely be in for a series of engine problems. You may be someone who drives in extreme conditions, but even so, three or four oil changes a year should suffice. Replacing your engine is much more expensive than this, not to mention the stress and hassle of having to deal with your vehicle failing on the side of the road.

How Often to Get Service

Most cars on Canadian roads today have the Service Interval Indicator (SII), a car maintenance reminder system first launched by BMW in 1982. If you have a classic car or an antique, you probably need to service it more often than other cars, but most cars today have drive reminder systems. They’re one of the simplest ways to tell when a car needs attention and are part of most modern vehicles.

Newer computerized maintenance systems will alert you if you need to change your engine oil. Some systems also check fluid levels and inspect components. They check tire pressure and notify drivers when it is time to rotate their tires.

Servicing for Cars with Normal Operating Conditions

If you drive under normal conditions, you may only need to bring your car for servicing after 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Even if you have an older vehicle, this should be enough time between services. The reason for this is that newer engines and lubricants are built better than older versions.

Also, if you haven’t had your car serviced in a while, look at your dashboard. It may have a lit Check Engine light that indicates that you’re running low on oil. This light could also be turned on because the oil is too dirty to be read, causing the engine to stall.

Either way, bringing your car in for a tune-up and oil change will turn off the Check Engine light and avert a potential engine failure in the middle of nowhere. And, of course, this will save you time and money on the road. So bring it in as soon as you can.

Servicing for Older Cars

Maintenance schedules for old cars are usually determined by the book or at least a manual. The book would have scheduled service intervals, and for older cars without maintenance reminder computers, there would typically be a mileage-based service schedule.

Aside from mileage or time and distance of use, servicing also depends on several conditions. There would be either normal operation or severe operation.

Conclusion

The best way to keep your car running optimally is to keep it well-serviced. Maintaining your vehicle will not only extend its life but will also save you money. You’ll spend much less when you bring your car to a mechanic for regular tune-ups.