When is a car service due? Mileage and time table

Routine servicing is the cheapest investment you can make in a car. A timing belt kit replaced on schedule costs a fraction of the engine rebuild it causes when it snaps. The table below is a general guide — for exact figures always follow your car's handbook.

Service intervals by mileage

These are average figures. On diesels, on cars used for very short journeys, and in a hot climate like Alanya's, bringing the intervals forward slightly is the safer choice.

• Engine oil and oil filter — every 10,000 / 15,000 km or once a year. Whichever comes first. Even with low mileage, oil oxidises and loses its protective properties.
• Air filter — every 20,000 / 30,000 km. Sooner on dusty roads. A blocked air filter noticeably increases fuel consumption.
• Pollen (cabin) filter — every 15,000 / 20,000 km or once a year. The number one cause of bad smells from the air conditioning.
• Fuel filter — every 30,000 / 40,000 km. Critical on diesels; when blocked it causes power loss and starting problems.
• Spark plugs — every 30,000 / 60,000 km. Depends on plug type (copper, platinum, iridium). Rough idle is the first warning.
• Brake pads — every 30,000 / 50,000 km. Measured thickness matters, not mileage. Cars descending hills often in Alanya wear out sooner.
• Brake fluid — every 2 years. It absorbs moisture and its boiling point falls. This is independent of mileage.
• Coolant — every 2 to 4 years. If it has gone cloudy or has visible sediment, change it early.
• Timing belt or chain — every 60,000 / 120,000 km. Varies enormously by model. A snapped belt destroys the engine; this must never be postponed.
• Automatic transmission fluid — every 60,000 / 80,000 km. Even on gearboxes described as "sealed for life", a change extends life in a hot climate.
• Battery — every 3 to 5 years. Alanya's heat shortens this; have it tested at every service.
• Tyres — every 5 to 6 years, or when tread depth drops below 1.6 mm. The age limit is independent of mileage — check the DOT code on the sidewall for the production date.

Three local factors that affect servicing in Alanya

1. Heat

Summer temperatures approaching 40°C directly affect engine oil viscosity and battery life, and the cooling system runs at full capacity constantly. That is why we recommend treating a coolant, radiator and battery check as a separate item before summer.

2. Humidity and salt

Close to the coast, wiring looms, exhaust systems and brake lines corrode faster than average. An underside inspection at least once a year catches the jobs that would otherwise become large and expensive.

3. Hills

Cars that regularly climb into the hills and hillside neighbourhoods around Alanya wear brake pads, clutches and gearboxes faster than normal. For these cars, aiming for roughly 20% below the figures in the table above is sensible.

What a service must include beyond the oil

An oil change on its own is not a service. A proper one also covers:

1. Brake pad thickness (which should be quoted to you in millimetres)
2. Tyre tread depth and production year
3. Battery voltage and alternator output
4. All fluid levels (coolant, brake, power steering, screen wash)
5. An underside leak inspection
6. Play in track rods, ball joints and shock absorbers
7. Belts and hoses checked for cracking
8. A computer fault-code scan, including faults not yet showing a warning light

Why the service record matters

A properly kept service record does two things: you know when each part was last changed, and it protects the car's value when you sell. For a used-car buyer, a consistent service history is more reassuring than the odometer reading. We log every job we do and tell you the mileage for your next service.

If you are not sure whether your car is due, send us the mileage and the date of the last service and we will tell you what it needs. You can also read more about our car servicing.