Car hardly used due to coronavirus. Do I need a service?

Tokmon

Super_Stomper said:

My car is usually serviced and MOT'd in February just prior to renewing my road tax. This year I have travelled less than 3,000 miles (instead of my usual 10,000) so I'm not convinced I need to spend £180-ish to have a service if it's not necessary. Handbook suggests 20,000 miles or 12 months. It's a Vauxhall Astra, 14 reg, and I take it out for a spin every week to 10 days to keep everything running smoothly. Any thoughts, please?

Low mileage short journeys actually mean a car needs servicing more often due to the oil degradation quicker which will put more wear on your engine. But just change the oil and filter yourself if you want to save money, but personally i would do the fuel filter and air filter too every year at least. 

Mutton_Geoff

Oil does five things in an engine. Always worth changing annually despite some manufacturers claiming two year "long life" intervals to benefit the lease companies.

Grumpy_chap

The OP may find this comment useful:
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/155626/my-car-has-done-very-few-miles-since-the-last-service-does-it-actually-need-serviced-again-?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter 11 February 2021&utm_content=Newsletter 11 February 2021+Version+B+CID_0e30947acc792565b1b0ca31bfe0de16&utm_source=campaign monitor&utm_term=Read the full QA

TimSynths

I did 1125 miles last year, still had an oil and filter change done, will probably do even less by the time I have this years MOT in September but will still change the oil/filter again.

Super_Stomper

Thanks all.  I'm creative rather than 'hands on' so the only things I normally do for myself apart from drive the car is put in fuel, check the tyre treads (easy now there is a guide to feel for) and check/top up windscreen washers, oil & other fluid levels. I even pay the chaps/chapesses at Halfords to change my windscreen wipers and light bulbs. LOL.  I did all the pre-checks that are in Martin's guide and the car passed it's MOT with flying colours. Will consider a mini service in the summer.