When to Service your Vehicle: Time or KM's first?

We often get asked what the difference is between time versus kilometre servicing, and which schedule guests should run by. And the short answer is that it really depends on your own circumstances!

For guests who do a lot of driving, like highway commuters, it’s always recommended that you service your car when the kilometres listed are reached. As with the increased driving levels, components of your car will wear and tear faster.

• Firstly, engine oils break down over time, losing their ability to absorb the bi-products of engine combustion. This can cause a range of things to happen like thickening oil, blocked filtration and poor lubrication, which could ultimately end in early engine failure.

• Secondly, brake fluids need to be replaced regularly. Did you know that brake fluid is prone to absorbing moisture over time? This can cause corrosion to internal components resulting in brake pedal pressure loss.

• Thirdly, gear oils and transmission fluids can lose their viscosity over time, which can lead to loss of lubrication, particularly in vehicles that are not being used frequently or are left sitting for long periods of time.

• Next, general fluid levels like oils, coolant and windscreen washer fluid need to be inspected and topped up regularly to maintain their effectiveness. And yes, while this is something you can check yourself at home if your nervous or unsure about topping up these fluids on your own or don’t have the recommended products available, our professional team of servicing experts are here to help!

• Next, brake inspections should occur regularly. Even if you don’t use your car a lot, it’s important that your brakes are inspected and checked for correct operation, wear and corrosion to maintain safety.

• Sixth, vehicle suspension components need to be checked for undue wear and tear to ensure that both ride comfort and safety are maintained.

• Next, driveline and steering components need to be checked regularly for damage and wear to improve the safety and durability of your car.

• And finally, your tyres, also need to be inspected regularly for things like uneven wear, balance & vibration, penetration of foreign objects and premature ageing of the rubber which could lead to punctures or deflation.

• As a rule of thumb, Toyota will always recommend that all of the oils & fluids are replaced or inspected at the time intervals in your servicing logbook, even if the vehicle is not covering the recommended kilometres within that time period.

Remember your servicing intervals are time or kilometres based, whichever occurs first.