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When this can be done is determined by the vehicle manufacturer, but garages only follow their recommendations. This is quite complicated, because it is important to know, for example, that different engines may have different oil change intervals. It can also depend on whether the internal combustion engine runs on diesel or gasoline: diesel engines are more sensitive, so they usually need to change the oil more often.
“The service cannot simply put the responsibility of this complicated event on the driver’s shoulders. It is their duty to invite the owner of the car for another inspection in time. On the other hand, when he arrives, the technicians check all the fluids according to the mileage or the age of the car,” says Kiršteins.
True, in this respect, electric car owners have a significantly calmer life. “They do not need lubricants due to their structural features – the electric motor has no metal parts that would come into contact with other surfaces during driving,” adds Kirstein.
Caring for not only new cars
When planning an oil change, it is always important to take into account a rather banal aspect – the real conditions in which the machine is used. For example, in a mountainous area or in a harsh climate (both freezing cold and sweltering heat), the engine has to withstand a greater load. Consequently, fluids that lubricate their parts may lose their properties faster, and their volume may also decrease.
This is equally important regardless of whether the car is new or old. According to Kirstein, some manufacturers actively refute the stereotype that companies care only about the maintenance of newly sold cars. For example, Land Rover in Latvia offers a special Platinum program for 4-10 year old cars. It offers the same maintenance as new machines without increasing the cost of such inspections. During the specified time, specialists carefully evaluate the condition of more than 20 parts, as well as perform traditional tests.
