To service or not to service

John_

I’d want to change the oil and filter and give it a thorough inspection at least once a year, on top of the MOT. I’d also want to replace the brake fluid once in a while and any other perishable items, but you don’t need to pay anyone else to do that if you’ve got a few tools and somewhere to do it.

[Deleted User]

3000 miles a year? You could almost walk it!

Mistral001

The traditional check done on a battery during a service is to check the battery acid level and top up if necessary, if it was not a sealed unit.  If it was a sealed unit it does not need serviced.  It just runs until it dies.

Ganga

I also do low milage ,about 2500 miles a year ,service it every two years r,have never changed the brake fluid ,still works fine and it is 15 years old 

onomatopoeia99

Herzlos said:

vaderag said:

Irrespective of that, why do I need my car serviced every <3000 miles?

Because low mileage is terrible for cars - the oil isn't likely to be getting warm enough to flow properly for instance.

That depends on the nature of the journeys undertaken rather than the total mileage covered.  

chelseablue

My car is 14 years old and I do about 5,000 miles a year. I get the oil and filters changed when it's in for its MOT 
I get a full service when the service countdown thingy says so  
Currently says there's 7,000 miles until the next service is due, which I doubt I'll do before the MOT in September 

vaderag

I decided to just MOT.
I'll oil change and filter change next year. The car only does relatively long distances few times a year - servicing annually imho feels a waste of money. 
I may end up eating those words, but we'll see!!

Alter_ego

I've run a 2010 car since it was 18 months old. I do oil and filter regularly and fix faults as they arise. Still going strong at 130,000 miles.

Ganga

vaderag said:

I decided to just MOT.
I'll oil change and filter change next year. The car only does relatively long distances few times a year - servicing annually imho feels a waste of money. 
I may end up eating those words, but we'll see!!

As stated I change mine every two years but use good quality/spec oil rather than cheap oil from a supermarket.