Servicing a car with low annual mileage

snowmen

Hello,
I am a low-mileage driver who uses their car for approx 5k miles a year.
I read that you are recommended to service your car either every 10k miles or every year whichever comes first.
My question is this - in my position can I stretch the service out to, say, every 18 months and it wouldn't really make much of a difference?
Car is 6 years old and paid off.
Thanks in advance.

400ixl

If you don't do the servicing yourself then find a good local specialist for the brand of car.

I am in a similar position where for the last few years I have been doing less than 6K a year. It still gets serviced every year as the oil needs doing regardless. Some of the other elements we they have done based on condition, for example the air filter may go an additional year.

There are lots of other things with are mileage or number of years based. For example, gearbox oil may be every 4 years, Cambelt may be every 6 or X miles, brake fluid every 2 years. These things need doing.

At 5k miles I would want the oil and filter changed every year anyway, so I wouldn't stretch it out.

comeandgo

I would never buy such a low mileage car unless I could see evidence of the yearly services.  

sevenhills

Since MOTs are required every twelve months, a service at the same time would be sensible.
If you trust the garage doing the MOT. But really there shouldn't be much to do. Oil change etc every two years, it depends on what advice you get.

RobM99

Yes, oil change. I worked in a petroleum lab for years and fuel dilution impairs engine oil. 

Grey_Critic

I have had my cars serviced every 12 months (sometimes more depending on mileage0 Always had oil/filters/plugs and even points when we had them and never been let down except once with a faulty plug.

The cost of servicing low mileage cars can be offputting but as someone has said look for a small reliable garage who is not looking to buy his next Rolls Royce at your expense.

snowmen

comeandgo said:

I would never buy such a low mileage car unless I could see evidence of the yearly services.  

Good thing I plan to run it into the ground then and not sell it!

snowmen

Good points all!
As I don't have a massive amount of spare money with everything that has been going on in the last 12 months I was wondering if I could stretch the service out any.
Good point about the oil needing changed regardless.

Bigwheels1111

As an absolute minimum get an oil and filter change each year.

If poss change the air & pollen filters yourself.

Just had my year 6 service after 3k miles.

Got a service contract with Peugeot, Via Emac for £14.99 a month for 5 year.

Oil & filter,Brake fluid,Adblue top up and Pollen filters. Got home and did the air filter myself. Took 15 mins.

Stubod

..as above, even for low mileage I would at least get the oil an filter changed annually if nothing else, and maybe a good check over every 2 years??

forgotmyname

Shorter journeys the engine may not be hot enough to expel the moisture so the oil gets contaminated much faster so lower
mileage should be serviced more often not less.

Mine did 2000 miles and still got serviced.