Best time to get car serviced

[cbmaxyz]

I've got a 2005 diesel (1.9 PD) which only does short journeys / low miles in winter, then some long journeys in spring/summer. So for instance, I did 2k miles in the 8 months to April '23, then 4k in May/June/July, and now less than 1k since then. With a slightly erratic life like this, when's the best time to get it serviced? Before all the short/cold journeys, or after? Last service was 6k miles ago in Nov '22.

[cliffords]

I would service the car once per year regardless of the erratic use

[Gigamoons]

It depends how much you’ve got invested in it.

We have a shed that’s used / borrowed so can sit for months or drive to Spain and back. It’s averaging about 5k miles annually and I decided to service it every other year. Seems fine.

[Youforreal.]

I’ve a few cars that lay up for 6 months over winter, I tend to change the oil for fresh stuff with no contaminants before putting them away, fit the ctek’s and simply turn the key in the spring and away you go, with your use it wouldn’t really matter.

[swisstoni]

I’d service it by mileage rather than time.
Diesels of that vintage are pretty bombproof.

[Griffith4ever]

Google how to do an oil and filter change. It's pretty much all you will get from a garage. They don't poke around and tell you your left front door hinge neeeds lube.

The oil change on any turbo car is what really extends its life.

Euro car parts. Oil (brandless fully synth), filter, and you might as well grab the cabin filter for £6. Air filter? I've never seeon one even mildly "dirty" , but again, £6.... You can do the whole thing for £40 ish. If your brake fluid is due for a change then let them do it of course (I do my own)

A "service" on a modern car is just an oil & filter change.