Car service before or after winter?

cbmaxyz

My car is due a service soon, and I was wondering what time of year to get it done. Before winter, during, after?

I do about 500 miles a month but only for leisure, shopping, etc - not for commuting. The car is a 2004 Ford Focus TDCI.

Other than the usual oil and filters, looking at the old service receipts I think it also needs new brake fluid (last changed Dec 2015), new coolant, and a new cam belt.

wgl2014

Just get it done when it's due....

I would suggest 12 months after the last service.

DoaM

wgl2014 wrote: »

Just get it done when it's due....

I would suggest 12 months after the last service.

Or whenever you've reached the mileage service interval - whichever is soonest. Given you do 500 miles per month then it'll be 12 months.

Note: your defined vehicle usage is potentially bad for your vehicle ... unless a 2004 Focus doesn't have a DPF. Even so, your usage is far more suited to a petrol-engine vehicle rather than a diesel.

NaughtiusMaximus

DoaM wrote: »

Note: your defined vehicle usage is potentially bad for your vehicle ... unless a 2004 Focus doesn't have a DPF. Even so, your usage is far more suited to a petrol-engine vehicle rather than a diesel.

You're well in to bangernomics territory with a 14 year old Focus. Assuming the OP's main concern is cheap motoring, I'd keep the car for as long it's reliable. It makes no economic sense to sell this for a few hundred quid and buy a similarly priced petrol car where you don't know the history.

DoaM

Agreed ... I raised it as a consideration for the OP's next vehicle.

NaughtiusMaximus

DoaM wrote: »

Agreed ... I raised it as a consideration for the OP's next vehicle.

Ah okay, fair enough. I agree the OP should go for a petrol car when this one finally makes the trip to the scrapyard.

Dandytf

Mines is due Jan -that's when I got it serviced and mot'd during 2017.
Ran all year since -only wipers have been replaced during free health check.
I beleive tyres will need re checked during Jan -that's fine.
I have never thought I need to get anything before Service+MOT are due unless obvious repair is required.
My 6k per year miles seem to cope with Jan garage attendance.
35k miles 2014 Clio.

DD265

I don't think it really matters as long as you keep on top of things. Psychologically I quite like having my car serviced before the weather turns though. I have it in my head (but it's probably not true!) that winter is harder on cars or I'm more likely to break down in winter.

Mine typically gets serviced twice a year based on current mileage, in spring and autumn. Right now I get it done when the car tells me it's about to need doing.

Next year my mileage will drop considerably, so it'll end up being every 12 months instead. I'm either going to tie it in with the MOT, or time it so that it falls in a month when I don't have big annual bills renewing like car insurance. I may need to get it serviced 'early' to achieve this, but I like to try and spread my costs out in case there are any nasty surprises.