Many drivers in the DMV don't realize that owners’ manuals typically have two maintenance schedules, one for ‘regular service’ and another for ‘severe service.’ Sometimes, these are simply called Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. How do they differ? A severe service schedule recommends that things like an oil change, air filter replacement, or transmission service be done more often – either in fewer miles or in less time. It's a response to environmental and driving conditions, or how much stress your vehicle experiences on a regular basis.
These are the conditions that warrant severe service.
Manufacturers create individualized schedules for each vehicle they make, so there isn’t one generic schedule that applies to all cars. In addition to your owners’ manual, the auto repair technicians at Metro Motor subscribe to information services that provide regularly-updated maintenance schedules for every vehicle on the road today, helping you know when to take care of needed services.
So, how do you know if your vehicle is a candidate for severe service? We're here to help! Below is a typical definition for severe service:
- Most trips are less than four miles
- Most trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing
- You drive in very hot weather
- The engine is at low speed most of the time (not on the highway)
- Stop and go driving
- You operate your vehicle in dusty or muddy conditions
- You tow a trailer, regularly carry heavy loads, or carry a car-top carrier
It makes sense: just a few minutes at freeway speeds allows the moisture in the oil to evaporate. Very short trips, or trips of less than ten miles when it’s very cold, don’t allow the engine to heat up enough to get rid of the water – and water in the oil leads to damaging sludge. Also, towing and heavy loads raise operating temperatures and cause fluids to break down more quickly. Dusty and muddy driving means that more dirt will get past the air filter to contaminate the fuel system and engine oil.
Is a severe service schedule right for you?
The bottom line is that you need to decide for yourself if the regular or severe service schedule is right for you, based on your typical driving conditions. Look at your owners’ manual or talk with your Metro Motor automotive service advisor who can help you know which schedule to follow.
Here is what a fleet manager said recently: “Since city miles are generally tougher on vehicles than highway miles, we use the manufacturer’s severe service schedule as the basis for our preventative maintenance program. We massage those schedules over time, increasing or decreasing the service intervals so they make the most sense for each individual car and driver. There is a little bit of art to go along with the science."
Make an honest evaluation of your driving habits. Unless you do mostly highway driving in moderate weather (and we all know how great the traffic is on 66), you’ll likely have a fairly good amount of severe service mixed in. Some people just want to play it safe and follow the severe service recommendations, rather than analyzing how they drive each month. Your Metro Motor auto repair and maintenance technician can help you craft a service plan that makes the most sense for you.
