[sgiitk]

@anujmishra; Good to learn that Tata are also on the 1 year, 10000+km route.

As for the M800 if you are outside the warranty, then the 1 year / 10,000 route is safe provided you use API-SF or higher (these days most are at least API-SG). Incidentally, the current grades as per API are SJ (obsolescent), SL, SM and SN. All others are obsolete.

[supremeBaleno]

The MSIL dealers also have this habit of calling and asking to bring the car at 5K intervals, though the manual does not have any mention of 5K services (it is 10K for all latest cars from Suzuki - I guess only the M800 is having 5K oil change).

My policy is to ignore their exhortation, even when car is in warranty and get the services done as per the manual at 1year / 10K kms, whichever is earlier. And after 2 years when warranty is over, it is time to say Tata to the dealer and move to the friendly neighborhood mechanic.

So, forget the dealer/service-centre and what they say. When you buy a car, read the manual and go by what the manufacturer specifies. I would think they are the best guys to know the car, since they make them. Except for our M800 (which has a 5K oil change schedule in the manual), the other cars (A-Star, Baleno, Swift) all go for an oil change when they complete 10K kms.

[dkaile]

Skoda recommends 15000kms or 1 year Service Interval for its cars. They recommend fully synthetic 5W/40 oils like Castrol Edge Professional or Mobil 1. Though I feel 10000kms or 1 year is a more sensible service interval for Indian conditions.

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

Some dealers try and get customers to sign up for Decoking and Radiator flushing. Hyundai are particularly notorious for this.

Th customer is called up every three months (Honda, Hyundai and maybe others) with a dire warning that the service is overdue, even though the Owners Handbook may not support this antiquated view. Let me add my views and experience from over 40 years of motoring.

.

Sir,

+1.

Hyundai started with deccab, flushing, additives etc and now other manufacturers have started following them.

Adding to that, I strongly feel, with the current workmanship standard we see at service centres. More the car goes in the hands of these workshops, more problems keep popping up.

In the past, we have had 2 same cars in the family, one used to go for complete service (flushing, caliper cleaning, additives etc) and other one just used to get fluids and oils changed at every 30k and 10k kms respectively.

Former was regular visitor to service center with small niggles after 50k kms and the latter is still going strong at 120k kms.

[arup.misra]

Honda dealers too have tried their 6M service calls on me. However this is nothing but fleecing. You need to be sharp enough to point out the 1 year / 10k intervals to them.

On both my cars, I follow this. Brio though is pretty new.

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by kpzen

Adding to that, I strongly feel, with the current workmanship standard we see at service centres. More the car goes in the hands of these workshops, more problems keep popping up.

The same everywhere, India or abroad. am told the most inexperience chaps are given the servicing work. With some brands an experience worker tests the car out before and after.

Originally Posted by arup.misra

Honda dealers too have tried their 6M service calls on me. However this is nothing but fleecing. You need to be sharp enough to point out the 1 year / 10k intervals to them.

You are lucky, I get calls every three months for by Civic.

[shadows123]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

The same everywhere, India or abroad. am told the most inexperience chaps are given the servicing work. With some brands an experience worker tests the car out before and after.


You are lucky, I get calls every three months for by Civic.

Arent Honda dealers harrassing everyone for service every 3 months even though their cars are more than reliable to withstand 1 year ? I think this is nothing but a rip off to make more money and honda as usual isnt bothered!

[supremeBaleno]

The old Honda 6-month service thing itself seemed an overkill given that most manufacturers had moved to 1-year intervals. And now it is ridiculous of them to insist of 3month service intervals - apart from the fact that today's cars don't need this kind of frequent service, who has time to get the cars for service every 3 months ?

BTW, there is a difference between the service interval definition of Honda and others. In the case of Honda, I understand the manufacturer itself prescribes a 3-month interval in the manual. But for say Suzuki, the manual says 1year, but the dealer wants to make a quick buck and insists on an intermediate 6-month service, which the manufacturer has not recommended.

[sgiitk]

Yes, but neither are Hyundai or (as I find) Maruti. No the manufacturer does not, except for heavy usage. Oil change is 10k or six months in mineral and 10,000 or 12 months with Synth. will know shortly with the Brio as well.

There is a case reported in some other thread, where the dealer 'scared' the father of a member into a service in three months, the chap when he came back raised hell, and got a voucher for the amount he had paid from the dealer.

[shadows123]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

The old Honda 6-month service thing itself seemed an overkill given that most manufacturers had moved to 1-year intervals. And now it is ridiculous of them to insist of 3month service intervals - apart from the fact that today's cars don't need this kind of frequent service, who has time to get the cars for service every 3 months ?

BTW, there is a difference between the service interval definition of Honda and others. In the case of Honda, I understand the manufacturer itself prescribes a 3-month interval in the manual. But for say Suzuki, the manual says 1year, but the dealer wants to make a quick buck and insists on an intermediate 6-month service, which the manufacturer has not recommended.

The Honda manual specifies service intervals of 1,3,6 for free services, After that 12, 24,36 and so on. But Honda dealers interpret it as 1,3,6,9,12 and harrass people with loss of warranty into getting their cars serviced!

[latentpotential]

For people who do not mind being hands-on, it would be prudent to check your oil every 1000 Kms using the dipstick method. A look at the quantity and quality of the oil that is present on the dipstick should be your guide to suggest a change/ top-up.

At the same time, one should not neglect the oil change for a long time. If it is a year or older, then you may go ahead for a change.

[a4anurag]

Regarding the service staff calling for the due service I call them more often to keep their staff ready before hand

I service my car every 5 months, a proper service as per the manual at the authorized service centers. Maruti recommends servicing every 10K kms or 1 year, whichever is earlier.

I do get many calls regarding what and how to service the car saying Engine Flushing, Injector cleaning etc. I politely say please do what is in the manual.

[supremeBaleno]

^^^I assume your car does 10K kms in 5 months itself due to which you give it for service every 5months.

@shadows123, so guess I was wrong. Honda also suggests service every 12months after the 1st year, but it is the dealers who insist on getting a service done every 3 / 6 months.
Need to check my friend's Jazz manual.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

^^^I assume your car does 10K kms in 5 months itself due to which you give it for service every 5months.

You are right buddy!

On an average 2600 kms a month so it takes around 4 months to complete 10K kms.

The first time when I took the car for service the advisor was shocked and asked me "Are you driving the car or using it as a Taxi?!"

[guptavis]

Originally Posted by shadows123

The Honda manual specifies service intervals of 1,3,6 for free services, After that 12, 24,36 and so on. But Honda dealers interpret it as 1,3,6,9,12 and harrass people with loss of warranty into getting their cars serviced!

that may be specified now, but my City 2006 has this for required maintenance in the manual:

Oil Service:
Replace engine oil; every 5000km or 6 months, whichever comes earlier
Replace engine oil filter; every 10000km or 12 months, whichever comes earlier

Other services: every 20000km or 12 months, whichever comes earlier

still used to get bothered with a service call every 3 months and we used to follow it till about 2009 after which we realised what was going on.